The House of Representatives has advanced to second reading a bill to establish a farm and ranch program for the armed forces to promote economic diversification and support agricultural production.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Babajimi Benson (APC-Lagos) and received broad support from lawmakers.

Representative Babajimi Benson, while leading the debate, explained that the objective of the bill is to leverage the resources and capabilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces to boost agricultural production, reduce the country’s dependence on oil revenues and resolve critical food safety issues.

According to Benson, “The initiative is part of a broader effort to diversify the economy, reduce dependence on oil revenues and address food security challenges. »

Benson further emphasized that the proposed Defense Farm and Ranch Program is not an entirely new initiative but builds on past government efforts to integrate the military into the agricultural sector.

Military resources for agriculture

Benson pointed out that military farms, primarily used for the livelihood of military personnel, existed in various forms across the country.

He believes that this history will contribute to the successful implementation of the proposed project.

“By involving the military in agricultural activities, the project aims to increase food production and contribute to national food security, leveraging the vast land holdings, labor force and organizational capacity of the ‘army.” » he declared.

Under the scheme, the armed forces will allocate their own arable land from various parts of Nigeria, thereby enabling the cultivation of various crops suited to different climatic zones.

According to Benson, this approach would maximize land use efficiency without the need to acquire new land, thereby minimizing costs and maximizing production.

Economic diversification

The project aligns with Nigeria’s broader economic strategy to diversify away from oil dependence by promoting agriculture as a sustainable alternative. Benson noted: “The project will support Nigeria’s broader economic diversification strategy by promoting agriculture as a viable economic alternative to oil. »

• The program also aims to strengthen food production and stabilize prices by introducing integrated agricultural systems combining agricultural crops, livestock and fish farming.
• Beyond food production, the program is designed to create jobs for both military personnel and civilians, helping to reduce unemployment rates. Benson explained, “This will create jobs for both military personnel and civilians, helping to reduce unemployment, while improving valuable skills that can be used in future agricultural and economic activities. »

After a successful second reading, Vice Chairman Rep. Benjamin Kalu referred the bill to the Defense Committee for further review and legislative action. If passed, this project is expected to be a crucial development for Nigeria, both in terms of economic diversification and national security.

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