Governor Umar Bago of Niger State says Nigeria is rich in agriculture and has no business in poverty.

This was as he said the nation’s resources are capable of taking its citizens out of economic hardship.

The governor made this statement on Wednesday at the Taraba International Investment Summit held at the Taraba State Banquet Hall, TY Danjuma House in Jalingo, the state capital.

According to him, Nigeria, with its fertile lands, had significant untapped potential.

Bago, therefore, urged the Federal Government and private sector individuals to harness the agricultural potential to eradicate poverty, declaring that with the year-round farming capacity, the country had no excuse for economic hardship.

“All the factors of production are inherent here in Taraba State, and it was enumerated in Aliko Dangote’s speech. We have land, water, sun, and people.

“People in Europe can barely farm for three months in a year, but we can farm 24/7, 365 days a year. It means we have no business in poverty,” he said.

Describing himself as the “Chief Farmer of Nigeria,” Bago stressed that all necessary factors for agricultural production; land, water, sunlight and manpower are abundantly present in Taraba State.

He reaffirmed the commitment of sub-national governments to support development in Taraba and across the federation.

Governor Bago further urged the state government to partner with major construction firms to deploy their equipment for land cultivation, thereby enabling mass agricultural production.

He stressed that the government should play the role of an enabler by providing an environment where businesses can thrive and investing in assets and capital procurement.