A leading Industrialist and the Akosin of Yorubaland, Chief Habeeb Okunola, has called on the Federal Government to always utilise research works of reputable scholars in enhancing the country’s development.
The Akosin who made call in a telephone interview with FREEDOM ONLINE, appealed to government, scholars and academic community to always involve traditional rulers in academic discourse and latest research findings, especially on ecology and environment.
He stated that such would keep them informed of latest researches and findings and help them in advising their people accordingly.
The Akosin, who decried the dearth of a regulated ecosystem in the country, said that it had impeded both the ecological and economic development of the country.
He said the situation was as a result of poor management of human activities on the natural environment.
“It is disheartening that most rivers have gone dry, blocked or polluted with aftermath effects like flooding through human activity of dropping refuse in flowing rivers.
“Most of the food we eat today are from inorganic sources, therefore, making us live unhealthy lives.
”Many animals of the past have been killed through bush burning and other erroneous human activities,” he noted..
The Philanthropist pointed expressed displeasure at the continued degradation of the environment especially the forestry and wildlife resources.
He called on governments at the local, state and federal levels to evolve urgent mitigative measures to forestall further loss.
Akosin urged government to create more farm settlements and villages across the country as they are potent solving-tool of major socio-economic problems.
He stated that climate change as caused by human activities had negative impact on the environment with serious repercussion on livelihood,.
He enjoined government and all stakeholders to take proactive measures in mitigating the myriad of negative impacts of climate change.
The Akosin of Yorubaland further advocated an agricultural revolution that will bring into play a careful combination of resources and other inputs for efficient and maximum production.
He posited that the potential for agricultural production in Nigeria exists, but inability to fully tap the potential is indicative that there is a structural defect within the production system.
“Hence, a structural transformation of our agricultural economy requires urgent attention if the country is to meet her future food and fibre requirements. In this endeavour, our small-scale farmers who are still the linchpin of our agricultural development and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future should form the central focus”.
He lamented the situation in towns and cities as people struggle for services and facilities that are inadequate to support decent living, while able-bodied young men and women continue to drift steadily from rural to urban areas in search of a dream world, leaving behind them an aging farm labour force.
Lamenting on the hindrances posed by the Land Used Act, as enshrined in the 1979 constitution to self sufficiency in food productions, the industrialist said since an important pre-requisite for accelerating development of agriculture is access to land, governments should continue to make necessary efforts to provide land to all those genuinely willing to contribute to agricultural production efforts.
“In addition, realising that effective administration of land reform programmes call for, among other factors, reliable records of ownership and tenancy, the Federal Government should embark on a comprehensive land record survey.
“Such survey should be conducted periodically to ensure the maintenance of up to date information on the situation”.
Akosin also called on local governments to set up model farms in various communities to teach modern farming methods or techniques to farmers in order to improve their knowledge about their farm enterprises. As much as possible, farmers themselves should be involved in the running of such farms.
He equally enjoined local governments to rehabilitate existing farm settlements and establish new ones where necessary in their areas with a view to mobilising school drop-outs for effective food production at local level.
“Local governments should also be primarily involved in all necessary means of productions, such as extension services, rural feeder roads, small-scale irrigation (fadama) schemes, soil conservation measures, small-scale rural water supply schemes,village animal clinics, crop protection, crop drying, storage and preservation”, the Akosin of Yorubaland asserted.
