Janet Samuel, Abuja
In line with its policy on food security, the Federal Government of Nigeria , has called on all Nigerians to plant something, as it declared that about 50million out of the 80million hectares of arable land in the country , remain uncultivated .
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi , made the call on Monday in Abuja, during a courtesy visit by the journalists covering the Senate .
According to him , out of the 8 – point agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration , food security is the most critical because of multifaceted benefits derivable from it .
He posited that some of the benefits are war against corruption because some people take to corrupt way of life as a result of hunger , just as some others also take to crime as a result of poverty which in itself , can be substantially addressed by food security .
” When you secure their stomachs , the tendency for average Nigerians, to resort to corruption or outright crime and criminalities , would be reduced.
” Nigerians need to key into the policy by planting something where ever they live .
” Government is also determined to get substantial part of the uncultivated hectares of land in the country cultivated .
” As it is presently, out of 70 – 80 million hectares of arable land in the country, only 34million hectares , are cultivated , meaning that there is more than enough uncultivated arable land for government and Nigerians to explore for farming and by extension, ensuring food security in the country “, he said .
