Senate Committee on Agricultural Institutions engages Minister of Agriculture

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Senator Lalong with Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, left

By Anthony Maliki, Abuja

Senate Committee Chairman on Agricultural Institutions and Colleges Senator Simon Lalong has emphasized the urgent need to deploy cutting edge research and modern farming practices in addressing food security challenges in Nigeria.

Senator Lalong was speaking when he led members of the joint Senate and House Committees on Agricultural Institutions and Colleges on oversight visit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

This was contained in a statement by Dr. Makut Simon Macham, Special Adviser on Media to Senator Lalong.

Lalong together with the Chairman House Committee on Agricultural Institutions Hon. Hakeem Adeyemi said the Committees were at the Ministry to engage the Ministers and top management team with a view to establishing a working partnership that will provide room to addressing major challenges of Agricultural Institutions and Colleges which are critical to the success of the Government in pushing away hunger.

He said apart from budgetary considerations, there was need for the Ministry to work with the National Assembly towards ensuring that all agricultural institutions and colleges live up to expectations and conduct research that is in tune with the current needs of the country.

The Senator assured the Minister and his team that they will work together in ensuring that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fulfilled in the area of food security.

While welcoming the Senate delegation, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. Sen. Abubakar Kyari thanked the Senate and House Committees for the oversight visit which he said will afford them the opportunity to discuss and be on the same page on some challenges confronting the Ministry.

While acknowledging the effort to create another Federal University of Agriculture by the Senate, the Minister observed that some of the existing universities of Agriculture are not under the supervision of the Ministry which needs to be addressed.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Sen. Sabi Abdullahi thanked the Legislators for the visit and said the partnership will enhance Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria.

The meeting later went into closed door session.