The Senate on Thursday passed, for third reading, the bill seeking to establish the Federal College of Agriculture in Shani, Borno State.
The passage followed the adoption of the recommendation to that effect in the report presented by its Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions during plenary.
According to the sponsor of the bill, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), the college is to promote agricultural knowledge and development in the host community and Nigeria generally.
He explained that the institution will teach people how to improve agricultural productivity and adopt better farming techniques.
“One of the fundamental challenges facing agriculture in Nigeria is our continued reliance on crude farming methods. We have not made sufficient progress in improving productivity and making farming easier through modern technology,” he said.
He added that once established, the college would help facilitate improved farming techniques, technology, knowledge and crop varieties among farmers.
“For those who may not know Shani, it is a local government area in Borno South. It is known for agriculture, particularly the cultivation of rice, tomatoes and onions, and shares boundaries with Adamawa and Bauchi states, which are also agricultural zones,” he said.
“I am excited about this achievement. I consider it one of my lifetime achievements in the National Assembly, especially as we approach the end of our legislative session,” he added.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the committee for a job well done and the sponsor of the bill for the development-driven initiative, which, according to him, would bring about agricultural development in Nigeria.
With the passage of the bill by the Senate, it will, in line with parliamentary procedures, be forwarded to the House of Representatives for concurrence before transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
