Gov’t restates resolve to boost food security

By Stanley Onyekwere

As part its effort to boost food security, the FCT Administration has pledged to bolster the existing collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), so as to improve the quality of soil, in the nation’s capital city.

Making this point, FCTA’s Permanent Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade, noted that the FCT Administration was very concerned about the quality of land because the productivity was largely dependent on land.

Adesola, spoke on behalf of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, when the governing council of the institute led by its President, Prof. Ayoade Ogunkunle, paid a courtesy call on the FCTA, recently in Abuja.

He assured that any agency of government that was desirous to contribute to the development of the FCT is always well received.

According to him,” if the land quality is weak you will farm for nothing and therefore, for a body to regulate the use of land is very important and appropriate for the country.

“We are here to receive you today on behalf of the FCT Minister, by my person Adesola Olusade, the Permanent Secretary FCTA, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCT, Abubakar Ibrahim and other management of staff in the secretariat.

“ We have taken note of the accomplishments of the institute and we also noted the paragraph two of your letter where you requested for an office space in the FCT. We will convey your request to the minister

“ I thank you Prof. Ayoade for acknowledging the robust structure we have in the FCT and for the enlightenment you provided us on the institute. On thing is certain the institute appears to be the father of all.”

Earlier, Ogunkunle, explained that the institute was an agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with its Act enacted and signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 3, 2017.

He also said that the institute was charged with the mandate of regulating and sustaining the profession of soil science and not only the profession but the use of soil.

He revealed that currently the institute have over 350 registered soil scientist that we can vouch for and they can counsel or advice people on the use of soil and if you adhere to it you are bound to succeed.

He said: “Soil is like the home for everybody such as human being, plants, animals and the nature of soil in every country makes it if we destroy it then we are in for problem.

“If we don’t manage it sustainably then we are in trouble. In abroad where we study we realized it and they make so many places untouchable because you cannot go to the next country to ask for their soil.

“You can ask for many other things but not soil. If a soil is erroded and damage it will take many years to restore it. Soil is like a living being when you start using it at a stage it doesn’t respond again unless it is well manage.”