Buhari hails NNPC, Agip, Oando on agri programme

President Muhammadu Buhari has praised the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC)  and its partners, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Oando, for the Green River Project (GRP) which has covered over 120 rural communities and empowered over 35,000 farmers. GRP is the firm’s agric intervention project.

In an audio-visual message to an agricultural exhibition and Farmers’ Day, organised by NAOC, Buhari explained that the company’s GRP had become more important “now that oil has ceased to be the nation’s cash cow. We have no option, but to turn to agriculture. Diversification of our economy is no longer something to pay lip service to,” he said.

He unfolded the government’s agricultural development programme aimed at attaining self-sufficiency in food production and yearly export of 10 million tonnes of grains and processed food by 2019  to farmers from Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers states during the celebration.

The return of marketing corporations is to serve as the main platform of the government’s programme which is also expected to lead to the development of 740,000 market-oriented young agricultural producers from among unemployed youths.

In the speech delivered on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Sonny Echono, the President said government’s strategies include: establishment of Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP), which will benefit 20,000 school leavers and rural youth leaders in each state of the federation and develop 18,500 university graduates into young agribusiness entrepreneur called “nagropreneurs” and Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHEs) – a private sector led mechanisation programme which will inject a total of 6,000 units of tractors and implements, 15,000 power tillers, 20,000 planting and postharvest equipment to mechanise an estimated four million hectares of land nationwide.

The Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fulvio Rustico  described the GRP of NAOC as a means to re-enforce a healthy relationship and cooperation between his country and Nigeria.

The Chairman of NAOC, Mr. Ciro Antonio Pagano with his Vice, Massimo Insulla in their respective remarks spoke on the impact of GRPin the four stakeholder  states.

They also spoke about the potential of the Project becoming a pivot for the development of the agric sector in Nigeria as it will serve as a major platform for knowledge sharing among farmers, academia, public extension services and agro allied industry.