2019: Task politicians on food policy, Gombe ADP Manager tells Nigerians

The Programme Manager of the Gombe State Agricultural Development Programme (GADP), Mr. Maina Laban Binus, has challenged Nigerians to task politicians that will come seeking their votes for the 2019 elections to make food security a cardinal point in their programmes.

Mr. Binus made the call while being a guest to an advocacy campaign by on the need to pass the right to food bill in the country.

Binus, while addressing the rally said, “Any politician coming to seek your votes towards 2019 election without making food security a priority should be disregarded”.

He said, the ADP has always been in support of the actualization of the right to food policy which is the reason why their slogan had always remained “food first”.

Speaking in his residence when the group called on him, the Gombe State Deputy Governor, Honourable Charles Iliya, commended the movement especially as it is being propagated by young people.

He said the Gombe State Government under Alhaji Ibrahim Hasssan Dankwambo has always given Agriculture the needed attention and priority, the reason why he feels the State should be addressed as the grains basket of the nation.

He assured that considering the importance of the programme, the Governor will be fully briefed and that Government will do all within its powers to mobilize stakeholders to see that the bill scale through even at the national level.

He said, “We have a friendly food/Agricultural policy in Gombe State as Government takes care of all technical requirements of any farmer in the State who cultivates ten hectares of land and above”.

He added that, “But of more important to your advocacy is that it is not the quantity of the food that matters, but the quality, correct mix in the food taken that matters. So your advocacy should also include that”.

Speaking at both forums, the Programme Manager of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Salaudeen Hashim, said CISLAC is on a nationwide campaign to propagate the right to food.

He said, the right to food is as sacrosanct to the right to life and is fundamental to any developmental policy. He attributed social problems in the society such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, prostitution among many others to the problem of food insecurity.

He also attributed the rising maternal child mortality rate in the country to the issue of food insecurity stressing that the bill does not require food sharing but a policy that will ensure food is adequate in the country.