“Benue State Might Loose It’s Pride If………. Senator Abba Moro Warns | READ DETAILS
The Senator representing Benue South, Senator Abba Moro, has said that Benue State might loose it’s pride of place if a harvesting and processing free zone is not created. He decried the deplorable state of Agriculture sector in Nigeria due to the inexistent of a harvesting and processing free zones in the different geopolitical zones which will enable both foreign and local investors to exploit Nigeria’s bask agricultural produce.
He said this while addressing the press on Tuesday after his sponsored bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Agricultural Harvest and Processing free zone Ataganyi, Benue South, passed second reading.
The bill was titled: A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NIGERIA AGRICULTURAL HARVEST AND PROCESSING FREE ZONE ATAGANYI, BENUE STATE
Senator Moro, in his lead debate, said that the intent of this Bill among other things, is to establish the Nigeria Agricultural Harvest and Processing Free Zone, to incentivize agro-industrilisation in Nigeria to harvest and process food and cash crops for our local consumption and for export purposes.
Senator Abba Moro added that Nigeria being a nation with a large track of arable land and relatively cheap labour, should ordinarily be able to feed itself sufficiently with excess for export. Sadly, Nigeria is a gross importer of food and agricultural products with a high inflation rate, extreme hunger and a struggling agricultural sector.
He also added that in Nigeria, agricultural revolutions have always been at the center of most agro-economic policies of past governments with the objectives of diversifying the economy using crude oil as a springboard. However, grossly inadequate implementation has impeded success of such policies and the consequence is a mono-cultural economy that has made Nigeria an importer of even the tiniest agricultural product such as toothpicks.
Continuing he said that the establishment of the free zone will augment value-chain commodities across the country which will entail the development and operation of agro-industrial processing clusters in the Zone. It will encourage competitiveness in Agro-Industrial production and Processing, that is critical, to further unlock the potentials of Nigeria’s agriculture. It will also improve food security, reduce post harvest losses, create jobs as well as wealth for Nigeria.
Senator Moro posited that with the coming of the Nigeria Agricultural Harvest and Processing Free Zone Ataganyi, Benue State, dry season farming will be encouraged in Nigeria to produce additional food in the dry season where less food has been traditionally produced.
In supporting the passage of the bill, a cross section of lawmakers during the plenary said that establishing the free zone will aid harvesting, processing and manufacturing of agricultural commodities, products and goods for export purposes. Warehousing of agricultural products for retail sales will be made easy and it will also attract International and commercial arbitration services.
The bill was referred by the Deputy Senate President after consideration to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Committee was given four week to report back to the Senate.
Meanwhile, bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Police Special Forces and the Nigeria Police Special Forces Training Schools and its Governing Council and for other related matters therewith, 2022 also scaled second reading.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume
The bill was referred by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege who Presided over Tuesday’s Session after consideration to the Committee on Police Affairs.
The Committee was also given four week to report back to the Senate.
