Bill to establish agric fund sails through at senate

THE Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that seeks the approval of the establishment of a National Agricultural Development Fund.

The approval followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, which was read on the floor of the red chamber by Chairman of the committee, Senator Abdullahi Adamu ( Nasarawa West) who is also the sponsor of the bill.

The bill also wants to provide among others, finance agricultural projects in Nigeria, to ensure food production and food security all over Nigeria, to provide finance for the implementation and to strengthen agricultural institutions in the country.

During the debate, issues were raised on grey areas which were amended leading to prolonged session on the adoption of the report

The lawmakers took turn to make their contributions and objections from clause to clause, just as the ( clauses) were subjected to voice votes by Senate President Ahmed Lawan after several considerations and amendments made. Senate President Ahmed Lawan congratulated the committee and prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari’s speedy assent to the bill. He said the bill is “one that will create wealth, provide employments for rural communities as well as stabilize the security situation of the country.”

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EANWHILE, in a communiqué recently, the Executive

Secretary of the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy ( UNDEDSS), Tony Uranta, said: “The attempt to steal the Niger Delta’s ancestral lands and waters through the National Water Resources Amendments Bill before the National Assembly must stop immediately or such action shall be seen as an act of war by Nigerian politicians, including Niger Delta lawmakers and politicians against the country and especially the Niger Delta region.”