Senate President Godswill Akpabio today unveiled a minor resufflement at the Red Chambers with the appointment of the Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District Simon Bako Lalong as Chairman Senate Committee on Agricultural Institutions.
The former Plateau State Governor brings wide experience into the 10th Senate particularly with his appointment to head the Senate Committee on Agricultural Institutions at a time that Nigeria is working assiduously towards achieving food sufficiency and food security.
Apart from his passion for agriculture as a practicing farmer, Lalong has a track record of performance in the agricultural sector during his term as Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly and two term Governor where he initiated and implemented several projects to assist farmers.
He was consistent in procuring and distributing fertilizers, chemicals, seedlings and other farming inputs and machinery to farmers on the Plateau.
Lalong also ensured the revival of the Plateau State College of Agriculture in Garkawa leading to its first convocation in over a decade.
He partnered with the Federal Government to entrench wheat production in Plateau State as well as the African Development Bank towards boosting potato and vegetables farming which are crops synonymous with the State.
He also created the Faculty of Agriculture at the Plateau State University Bokkos as well as worked for the take-off of the Federal Polytechnic Nyak, Shendam which has a focus for agricultural development and research and agro-processing.
The former Governor was also instrumental to efforts at finding lasting solutions to the lingering attacks on farmers and herders which have disrupted the food production chain of the nation.
As Governor, he was responsible for the establishment of ranches in Plateau State under the National Livestock Transformation Programme and his administration also passed initiated the anti-land Grabbing Bill which was signed into law.
Many therefore welcome his appointment as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Institutions describing it as the right decision that will enable the 10th Senate to leave indelible footprints in the Nigerian Agricultural sector.
