90% Nigerians Still Depend On Hoes, Cutlasses To Survive – Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has decried the lack of adequate investment in agriculture and technology, saying the situation has negatively affected efforts to end insecurity and reduce poverty.

Shettima stated this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, while delivering the 13th convocation lecture of Al-Hikmah University, Ilọrin, weekend.

The vice president said it was unfortunate that 90 per cent of Nigerians still depend on cutlasses and hoes to earn a living.

He said, “100 years ago, our forefathers were eking out a meager existence using cutlasses and hoes. Even now, 90 per cent of Nigerians are living a subsistence existence using hoes and cutlasses. This calls for investment in modern technology.

“I have a picture of a town in central Borno that was taken in 1900 and when you juxtaposed it with the one taken in 2020, there won’t be any remarkable difference.”

Shettima reiterated the need to leverage the growing influence of technology to develop our agricultural sector to actualise food security.

Nigeria, he said, can overcome insecurity once we grow our economy to radically reduce poverty levels, adding that, “Only an agricultural revolution can guarantee this.”

He said going by the amount of arable land, water resources, and size of our humanity, Nigeria has no reason not to be among the ten richest countries in the world.

The vice president thanked the management of the school for naming the newly-constructed Faculty of Nursing Complex which he commissioned after him.