50m hectares of Nigeria’s arable land uncultivated — Minister

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, says about 50 million out of the 80 million hectares of arable land in the country remain uncultivated.Mr Abdullahi disclosed this in Abuja at a parley with journalists covering the Senate.

The minister said out of the 8-point agenda of President Bola Tinubu, food security was the most critical given the multifaceted benefits derivable from it.

“As it is presently, out of 70 million to 80 million hectares of arable land in the country, only 34 million hectares, are cultivated, meaning that there is more than enough uncultivated arable land for government and Nigerians to explore for farming.”

According to him, a key benefit derivable from food security is war against corruption as some people take to corrupt way of life as a result of hunger.

“Just as some others also take to crime as a result of poverty which in itself, can be substantially addressed by food security.

When you secure the stomach, the tendency for average Nigerians, to resort to corruption or outright crime and criminalities will be reduced.

“Nigerians need to key into the policy by planting something wherever they live.

“Government is also determined to get substantial part of the uncultivated hectares of land in the country cultivated,’’ he said.

The minister, however, urged Nigerians to engage in improved planting in tandem with Federal Government’s policy on food security.