Go back to the farms - Sultan urges Nigerians

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has noted that Nigerians are really experiencing difficult times occasioned by the global financial crunch, hence the need for the people to go back to farming as a way out of the current hardship.



Speaking in a Sallah message to the Muslim Ummah in his palace in Sokoto on Wednesday, the monarch said Nigeria has been endowed with vast arable land,with each region having its own peculiar comparative advantage and as such the country has no business with importation of food.

“Farming is our main source of livelihood in the North. We should go back to the farms and engage in both rainy and dry season farming. With this, we can produce adequate food to be locally self-sufficient and even export the surplus,” he said.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari and Sokoto state government for their efforts to revamp the agricultural sector, Abubakar said, “These efforts will help in further reducing poverty and unemployment, as well as boost the nation’s revenue.

“Premium should also be placed on the welfare of Nigerians and security,while we should all regard security as a collective responsibility.”

He condemned the recent blast close to the Holy Mosque of Prophet Muhammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia, insisting that Islam abhors all forms of violence.

“Islam is a religion of peace and it preaches peace and unity. Violence breeds only breeds violence and underdevelopment. It is only the bad eggs among the Muslims who are perpetrating such heinous acts,” he said.

The Sultan further called on parents in the country to enrol their children in schools to acquire both western and religious education.