Lagos Laments Voter Apathy during Presidential Poll

Urges all eligible voters to turn out tomorrow

Gboyega Akinsanmi Oladejo, appealed to the residents to vote for continuity of excellence and good governance in the state.

He, therefore, lamented that out of 3.8million eligible voters, who collected their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs), only 1.5 million eligible voters voted on the March 28 elections, urging them not “to be discouraged by long standing in the sun.

“This is the time for us to look for continuity of this programme. consider the achievement of this government on security, infrastructure, public health, education and food security. Saturday’s election is vote for light and darkness. You all know the party that stands for darkness in the last 16 years,” the commissioner said.

He explained that the state government would focus more on the development of agriculture sector in order “to eradicate poverty and address food crisis. The eggs are from poultry farmers. The fish are from fishermen. More Lagosians are going into farming.”

Speaking on the agricultural value chains, the commissioner assured the people that the agriculture sector would receive a major boost under the administration of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, noting that party’s free meal policy would create market for farmers and make farming more attractive.

He added that farmers should brace up “to enable them tap into the opportunities that the incoming administration “will provide when it takes over affairs of Nigeria from May 29. The one meal per day policy would not only encourage school enrollment across the country, but also empower farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

“The one meal per day of Buhari will empower more farmers in the state. The incoming government will also give priority to the farmers. There will be major opportunity for those in agriculture sector. Some farmers will be responsible for the supply of the eggs and food stuff. So, it is a great opportunity for farmers to tap into.”

He added that the state had already embarked on aggressive empowerment of farmers with the supply of farming inputs “to abolish poverty among the beneficiaries. No fewer than 21 beneficiaries, who specialised in aquaculture will get 20 bags of fish feeds each.

“For those in poultry, at least 27 of them will get 40 bags of poultry feeds. While 105 piggery farmers will also get 20 bags of pig feeds. A total of 244 egg marketers will get 50 creates each. Butchers were also considered because most them are faced witht the challenge of capital.

“Majority of them said they buy the cattle on credit and pay after selling. As a result, we are giving four butchers a cow as our empowerment strategy. So, 250 herds of cattle will be given to the butchers across the state.”