Alhaji Mubashir Ojelade, the National President of the Anwar-Ul-Islam movement in Nigeria, has stated that the country urgently requires significant reforms in its agricultural policy to combat food insecurity.
During the 10th Ramadan Lecture held by the Anwar-ul Islam Old Students Association (ACAOSA), previously known as Ahmadiya College, Agege, on Saturday in Lagos, Ojelade emphasized the need for federal and state governments to develop policies that would put the vast tracts of unused land across the federation to productive use.
He highlighted that such measures would help tackle the critical issues of unemployment and hunger, which demand immediate resolution.
Ojelade remarked, “We are faced with grave challenges of hunger and unemployment; there is widespread joblessness, and yet, in every state of the federation, there are vast hectares of land lying fallow.”
“Whenever you fly within Nigeria, take a moment to look out the window, and you’ll notice the vast expanses of uncultivated land,” he observed.
At the same event, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), mentioned that the solution to Nigeria’s current economic challenges lies in agriculture according to Islamic teachings.
He noted that the economic insecurity in Nigeria has reached a point where many Nigerians cannot afford three meals a day.
“The consensus among today’s speakers, which I share, is that we must return to our roots and cultivate the land. By focusing on agricultural economics, we can revitalize our agriculture sector, which will undoubtedly set our country’s economy back on a growth trajectory.
The issue is that we are no longer focusing on agricultural production or manufacturing,” he explained.
According to him, Nigeria remains a rich country considering its vast arable land as well as the natural and human resources.
“The practical reality is that we actually fail because we have not maximised what God has given to us. Nigeria should not sleep, we need to work to feed ourselves,” he said.
He, however, assured that President Bola Tinubu had taken giant strides towards solving the problems of hunger, unemployment and improve the nation’s economy.
“By the grace of God, the next couple of years, this administration will make Nigerians smile again,” he said.
Pedro applauded the president’s efforts to ensure the development of local content in agriculture.
“We should be able to eat what we grow and buy what we produce in this country. That’s is the only way we can grow industries,” he added.
Pedro appealed to states governors, irrespective of political leaning, to collaborate with the president to realise his agenda of making Nigeria great again.
The lecture was attended by old students of the association, including Rep. Wale Ahmed, Agege Federal Constituency, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, among others.
