Ondo: Farmers Cry Out : Our Wives Are Still Being Raped, Children Kidnapped, Urge Tinubu To Secure Farmers

By Ayodele Oni

Stakeholders in agribusiness in Ondo state have advised President Bola Tinubu to back up the state of emergency declared in agriculture sector with provision of adequate security for farmers.

Senior Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Pastor Akin Olotu, made the call while addressing newsmen on behalf of the stakeholders in Akure.

According to the Olotu, the inability of many farmers to have access to their farms have increased the level of high cost of food and scarcity in the country.

Olotu pointed out that “Not just in some areas, where banditry actions are alarming, in most states of the Federation, farmers and their farms are largely unsecured.

“It is good Mr. President has declared a state of emergency in the Agricultural sector, he should go ahead to effect a new security architectural structure that will allow each local government or state to secure farms for farmers.

Mr. President Sir, famine is looming in the nation. It is that serious. Kidnapping of farmers and raping of their wives and daughters are still on-going in many states and farmers are fleeing the farm and villages.

“National Assembly and State Assemblies nationwide should legislate grazing on farms as a very serious offence.

“Immediate action on modern cattle rearing system should be made a priority and implementation should commence as a matter of urgency.

“This will reduce kidnapping, destruction of farms and restore confidence of Nigerians to go back to the farms because this crime is under reported.

“The present nomadic arrangement is benefiting no one including the animals that are being moved about from one place to another. It will never allow even the herders to have a settled lives and family.

“Mr. President and the National Assembly should do something immediately. The sector could be transformed in 12 to 24 months. Famine is looming”

He also called on President Tinubu to decentralize the federal ministry, departments and agencies in the agricultural sector for ease of service delivery.

Olotu said that the operational structure and authority to approve should be devolved into the six geo-political zones to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, timely delivery and reduction in the cost of administration.

The governor’s aide pointed out that the present arrangement had never worked and it would not work, stating that regional offices should coordinate the states in their region.

Olotu also advised the Federal Government to approve 50 per cent subsidy on import duties on agricultural items as the cost of inputs for poultry, fishery and arable farming.

He said that action should also be taken immediately in the area of securing farms and farmers to avoid famine across the states of the federation.

While commending Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in the agricultural sector, the governor’s aide noted that operators of large-scale farms in the country were operating as orphans.

“They make roads to their farms and arrange security for themselves and their workers.

“They generate their electricity, pay huge and multiple taxes as well as import duties on farm machinery and inputs.

“Nigerian customs officials don’t care, even if your inputs rot away in their custody on the altar of prohibitive import duties and administrative procedures.

“There is the need for urgent intervention here. Interest rate on agricultural loans must be at maximum of 4 per cent for credible and proven indigenous investors,’’ he said.

According to him, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should continue with long-term funding windows, but the arrangement should be reviewed.

“Each geographical zone should come up with its proposal as a matter of urgency for strategic crops, livestock and agriculture,” he said.