Reps to Meet CDS, Minister Over Presidential Directive on Farming

July 17, 2024

The House of Representatives will next Monday meet with the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to ascertain modalities being put in place for the implementation of the directive issued by President Bola Tinubu for the military to cultivate their land.

Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, while briefing a select parliamentary correspondents.

He explained that the President’s directive was part of measures to address the challenges of food insecurity in the country.

He said: “If there is food security, insecurity will go down. So, the army should take possession of their land. Let’s say they have one million hectares somewhere, there is not going to be insecurity in that area because it is going to be manned by the military.

“We are taking initiative on Monday, next week. We are going to call the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff to come and explain to us how they want to transform Mr. President’s directives into reality. Let the Armed Forces who protect us be involved in this. Let them cultivate the vast land before them.”

Hon. Benson who applauded President Tinubu for championing local government autonomy, expressed optimism that the development would reduce insecurity situation across the country.

“This will help in addressing insecurity in the country as security starts from the grassroots and with the autonomy, local government council chairmen will have more funds to develop their areas and secure lives as well as properties.

“Financial autonomy granted to local governments would spur development and close ungoverned spaces which induced insecurity.

“I give super kudos to the President of Nigeria for ensuring that there is Local Government autonomy because security starts from the grassroots. So, if you empower a Local Government to have full receipt of their monthly applications, they don’t have immunity like the Governors and people are aware that now, the shackles are broken.

“I don’t think there will be any stretch or space in Nigeria that will not be governable.

“When I received reports from my military people, they told us that there are a lot of ungovernable spaces, areas where no single government presence exists.

“It now behoves the people to be wise in choosing people that administer them because if you do that, this is a game changer in my opinion. I think it is a game changer that can be catalytic for Nigeria’s development”, he said.