In a strategic move aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s agricultural sector, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the appointment of Senator Simon Bako Lalong as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Institutions. Representing Plateau South Senatorial District, the former Plateau State Governor brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record to the 10th Senate.
Senator Lalong’s appointment is particularly significant as Nigeria intensifies efforts towards achieving food sufficiency and security. A passionate advocate for agriculture and a practicing farmer, Lalong has consistently demonstrated his commitment to advancing the sector. During his tenure as Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly and as a two-term Governor, he spearheaded numerous initiatives to support farmers, including the procurement and distribution of fertilizers, chemicals, seedlings, and farming machinery.
Lalong’s impact on agricultural education is noteworthy. He revived the Plateau State College of Agriculture in Garkawa, leading to its first convocation in over a decade, and established the Faculty of Agriculture at Plateau State University, Bokkos. Additionally, he facilitated the take-off of the Federal Polytechnic Nyak, Shendam, with a focus on agricultural development and research.
His efforts in crop production were marked by collaborations with the Federal Government to promote wheat production in Plateau State and with the African Development Bank to boost potato and vegetable farming. Furthermore, Lalong played a crucial role in addressing farmer-herder conflicts, establishing ranches under the National Livestock Transformation Programme, and enacting the anti-land Grabbing Bill to protect agricultural lands.
Senator Lalong’s appointment has been widely welcomed as a strategic decision that promises to enhance the effectiveness of the 10th Senate in leaving a lasting impact on Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
