Ogbeh Launches Motorcycles For ADPs

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By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has launched and distributed ministerial motorcycles in support of extension agents of agricultural development programs.

Speaking at the launching at NAERLS/ABU Zaria, Minister Ogbeh said, the motorcycles are for the whole nation’s agricultural development projects.

He said, it has become imperative and indeed compelling for Nigeria to diversify its economy, having been virtually dependent on petroleum for four decades.

According to him, Nigeria has come to realize that the most apparent sector to achieve this is the agricultural sector which presents the greatest potentials for sustainable economic development of the country in terms of resource based approach to growth.

The minister therefore said, Nigeria must transit from oil dependency to a more diversified economy, as the domestic economy is always susceptible to external revenue shook when oil prices fall.

“It was in realization of this that president Muhammad Buhari directed the setting up of four special committees, one of which is the special committee on revitalization of agricultural extension services in Nigeria.

He said, knowing that it is the responsibility of agricultural extension professionals and practitioners to ensure that scientific research results are brought to bear upon the performance of agriculture to increase productivity.

While lamenting that only few extension agents are left in the service of most of the ADPs, to get these few extension agents to service the farmers adequately in order for government to achieve its plan to increase the productivity and production of the farmers, it has become very necessary to provide them with appropriate form of mobility.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has procured 370 units of motorcycles to the extension agents in all the geopolitical zones.

“The ministry has decided that beneficiaries of the motorcycles will pay 5% of the cost as a revolving fund,” he disclosed.

Chief Ogbeh said it is expected that such refunds from the benefiting extension agents will be placed in an account with the ADPs from where money can be made available to procure motorcycles for other extension agents in all the states.

He directed states directors to be involved in the management of such revolving funds.

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