The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) was a distinguished panelist at the colloquium held in honour of the 72nd birthday and 21st coronation anniversary of His Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, CFR, the Etsu Nupe. The event, which focused on the theme “Food and the Nation,” brought together prominent stakeholders and dignitaries committed to agricultural transformation and national development.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Innocent Audu Ogbeh, former Minister of Agriculture, quoted John Locke, Karl Marx assistant, stating that “a man must first feed himself, clothe himself, and house himself before he can turn his attention to politics and philosophy.” He underscored the urgent need to address food insecurity, warning that unresolved food problems would inevitably give rise to broader national challenges.
In his royal remarks, the Etsu Nupe pledged to encourage his people to embrace farming and fully utilize the vast arable land available across his domain for sustainable agricultural development.
The “Farmer Governor,” His Excellency Mohammed Umaru Bago, in his address, reiterated his administration’s steadfast commitment to agricultural growth, pledging continued investment and policy support to elevate the sector.
While on the panel, the CG emphasized that Nigeria holds immense potential to increase its agricultural export volume. He affirmed NAQS’s readiness to work with state governments to facilitate safe trade and make agriculture more attractive to the youth. He noted that agriculture has progressed beyond farming and planting, urging young people to explore the wealth of opportunities across the value chain and within the Export Commodity Value Chain (ECVC).
The colloquium served as a timely reminder of the central role food plays in national stability and prosperity, reinforcing the call for renewed commitment to agribusiness and food security and NAQS remains committed to protecting the agricultural economy and farmers can earn more from their investments.
