Start agric revolution now, Bode George, Gen Olanrewaju tell Sanwo-Olu
Prominent Lagos indigenes under the aegis of m Eko Pataki yesterday asked Governor Babajide SanwoOlu to immediately begin a move towards revolutionising agriculture in the state.
The indigenes made the call against the backdrop of the recent decision to block food supply to the South by the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers in Nigeria (AUFCDN).
Reacting to the development yesterday, the group said there was the need for the government to redirect its policies towards broadening agricultural investment in order to enhance food sufficiency in the state.
This was contained in a joint statement by the leader of the group, Chief Bode George, and its trustees, Gen Tajudeen Olanrewaju and Mr Gbadebo Dallas.
The group charged the governor to engage the huge unemployed youths in the state to drive the agricultural revolution.
The statement reads in part: “The recent action of the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers in Nigeria which halted the convoy of trailers from bringing tomatoes, pepper, onions and all kinds of foodstuff to the South should awaken the leadership of Lagos State to redirect its policies in widening its agricultural investments.
“Lagos State which is naturally our foremost concern as m Eko Pataki should henceforth impress into immediate duty a massive workforce of her unemployed youths across the IBILE traditional enclave, whipping our vast and enriched lands into a huge agricultural holding.
“From Ifako-Ijaiye to Imta, from Epe to the rolling fields to the mangroves of Badagry, Lagos State is blessed with nutrient-rich agricultural fields that can quickly be marshaled into farmlands where various kinds of crops from tomatoes, lettuce, pepper, beans, rice, corn, yam, potatoes, cassava to many others can be planted to enhance our self-sufficiency in food production.
“It is our candid advice to Governor Sanwo-Olu to quickly reorder the state’s priorities in ensuring that our state becomes the new food basket of the country thereby triggering a new agricultural revolution in the state of excellence.”