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Linus Aleke, Abuja:

A parliamentarian representing IgboEze North/Udenu Federal Constituency of Enugu state in the National Assembly, Hon. Dennis Nnamdi Agbo has called for more investment in the agricultural sector to ensure food security and growth in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through agriculture.

Hon. Agbo gave this charge in Abuja at the First Annual Conference and Launching of Cooperative Digest of Federal Civil Service Staff of Nigeria Cooperative Societies Union with the theme “Cooperative in Change Dispensation, the Economic Connect with Public Servants.”

He however decried a scenario where Nigeria as a nation can no longer feed its population without relying on imported food, such as rice, tomatoes, egg, chicken, milk etc despite the rich arable land the nation is blessed with by nature.

The law maker nonetheless, advocated for the building of constituency projects around agriculture to guarantee food security and employment generation, adding that higher institution of learning in the country should also establish what he described as ‘demonstration farms’ in their various institutions to ensure food sufficiency in the country.

He also observed that Saudi Arabia that depends heavily on Brazil and United States of America for the supply of grasses for her ranches is one of the leading nations in milk production while Nigeria with good climate, land and abundant grasses are depending on less endowed nation for milk supply.

Agbo boasted that the farms he established in his constituency as part of his constituency projects is a demonstration of the fact that action speaks louder than voice, urging other parliamentarians to emulate his foot step so as to save the nation from the looming danger of hunger, malnutrition and possible depression if urgent steps are not taken outwit the current recession.

On his part, the President of Federal Civil Service Staff of Nigeria Cooperative Societies Union, Barrister Onjefu Obe said that the annual conference is aimed at bringing members together to chat a way forward for cooperative societies in Nigeria, especially amongst civil servants.
He noted that the contribution of cooperative societies to the wellbeing of its members and the nation at large cannot be overemphasized.

Obe however, lamented the negative perception of the institution in the country and vowed to work hard to reverse the erroneous believe.