.
By Nasir Kura
The federal government would create five million jobs with the the launch of ‘The Green Imperative’ agricultural mechanization programme using the $1.1 billion loan from the Brazilian government.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who launched the project at the State House in Abuja, said the ‘Green Imperative’ is aimed at boosting agricultural production in the country.
Osinbajo said the project is “signature focused and game changer because with mechanised agriculture, everything becomes different.
“We cannot bring our nation out of poverty without investment in agriculture. Also the share number of young people coming into of age will not only need to be fed but employed.
They want dignified jobs with decent pay.
“Today, we are producing paddy rice as much as we need because of mechanization of agriculture. The only way to make the quantum leap required in our economy is what we are doing today with this project, the Green Imperative.
“One of the reasons young people don’t warm up to agriculture is because it is not mechanized but that will change with this project. We have made a significant difference in creating food sufficiency and decent jobs. We have ensured that this will be private sector driven,” he said.
Also speaking, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, called on youth to seek wealth through agriculture, adding that having another address other than politics would give them a voice in the society.
“With Brazilian support we will get to where we want to get to. Importation alone does not make a country great, production does. By importation, we also imported poverty and unemployment but this administration is set to reverse all that. Work is prayer in action,” he said.
The minister assured the Brazilian team that the environment would be friendly and welcoming, stressing that “there is nothing wrong in borrowing if you use it well, it is when you waste that you invite disaster.”
In her remarks, Minister or Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration sees the project as a national emergency to explore every possible opportunity to grow the non-oil sector.
She said the Green Imperative is designed to promote agricultural mechanisation, create employment opportunities for our energetic youth and help achieve food seIf- sufficiency.
