Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to diversifying Nigeria’s economy through substantial investments in agriculture during a visit to several key government agencies on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Gbajabiamila’s tour included a visit to the Nigeria Agriculture and Land Development Agency (NALDA), where he engaged in an interactive session with the agency’s Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Cornelius Adebayo.
During the session, Gbajabiamila reiterated the government’s focus on agriculture and food security, stressing the importance of NALDA’s innovative approaches, such as developing greenhouses and expanding the cultivation of arable land across the country.
At the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Gbajabiamila responded to a presentation by the acting Director-General, Olusegun Omotola, by commending the agency for saving the Federal Government N1.7 trillion from 2009 to 2022 by addressing loopholes in procurement processes. He also discussed the ongoing review of the BPP Act, aimed at aligning it with international best practices, reducing corruption, and minimizing bureaucracy. Gbajabiamila noted that the President plans to inaugurate the National Council on Procurement (NCP) to further strengthen the bureau’s operations.
The Chief of Staff also visited the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), where he praised the agency for remitting over N1 trillion in proceeds to the Federal Government since 1999. He emphasised the need for improvement and assured the agency of continued support to optimize its mandate.
Gbajabiamila’s visit also included a stop at the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including electricity generation. He underscored the importance of incorporating nuclear technology into Nigeria’s energy mix to meet the nation’s growing energy demands.
Throughout his tour, Gbajabiamila emphasized the administration’s commitment to strengthening institutions as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda. He reassured the agencies that concerns such as staff remuneration, office accommodation, and other challenges would be addressed to create a more conducive work environment.
Accompanying Gbajabiamila on the tour were key government officials, including Sen. Ibrahim Hadeija, Deputy Chief of Staff; Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, Permanent Secretary, State House; and Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff). The agencies visited included NALDA, BPP, BPE, NAEC, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
