In a joint budget defense session of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Nigerian Senate has passionately urged the executive branch to allocate a minimum of 10% of the total annual budget revenue to support agricultural production.
Sen. Salihu Mustapha, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture Production, Services, and Rural Development, emphasized the critical role of the agricultural sector despite facing challenges. He pointed out that, as the largest contributor to the country’s GDP from the non-oil sector (over 20%), the sector deserves increased budgetary attention.
Expressing concern about the current budget allocation, which falls short of the 10% recommended by the Maputo Declaration, Mustapha emphasized the potential of the agricultural sector to alleviate poverty and ensure food security for millions of Nigerians.
He stated, “It is imperative that the sector be given the utmost priority in national economic policies and future budgets,” calling on the executive to demonstrate political will by allocating a substantial portion of national budgets and revenues to agriculture.
Mustapha underscored the significance of the budget defense process, affirming the readiness and commitment of both chambers of the 10th Assembly to collaborate and pass the 2024 budget promptly.
