The minister for Agriculture and rural development Chief Audu Ogbeh stated that he had predicted the Boko Haram crisis back in 2000 and had warned Northern Leaders about it.
He is of the opinion that the whole saga could have been averted if only he’d been listened to. He also claimed to have known it would have religious origins and that he’d addressed Northern Leaders back in 2000 about the potential danger.
He said he felt the crisis could have been averted if more northern youths were involved in Agriculture.
Ogbeh said this yesterday when he spoke at the second day of the third edition of the Ogun State Investors Forum.
He noted that Agriculture was a big source of income the world over and also warned that Nigeria would remain underdeveloped if Agriculture wasn’t paid more attention to.
He urged the government to make Agriculture more attractive to youths so as to reduce rural-urban migration.
Ogbeh stated authoritatively that if cassava farming was well developed, then it was an aspect that could create many jobs. He also espoused the derivatives from cassava, like ethanol and starch and said they could generate millions of dollars in foreign exchange.
According to him, because of 10 per cent viscosity and starch found in Nigeria’s cassava, the product is in high demand in China urging Ogun State government to take advantage of the opportunity and invest in cassava farming and processing.
“We need about one million tonnes of cassava per annum in Nigeria and in the next five years, it will rise to eight million tonnes.
“Apart from that, about $480million is being spent to import ethanol every year. So I suggest Ogun State and of course Nigeria, should take advantage of this and diversify in the cultivation as well as processing of this all-important farm produce. Rice, vegetable, soya beans and sugar cane farming are other areas.”