REPS SEEK PARTNERSHIP WITH NETHERLANDS ON PEACE BUILDING, FOOD SECURITY 24-02-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Kalu has called for more collaboration and partnership between Nigeria and the Netherlands to address some challenges in the country such as conflicts and food insecurity to foster economic growth and development.
Mr. Kalu made the call while playing host to the Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, Mr. Wouter Plomp who paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly, Abuja.
The Deputy Speaker noted that the Netherlands stands as a significant source of Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria, particularly in oil and gas, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors.
He commended the Netherlands for their investments in Nigeria and contributions towards reducing insecurity.
According to him, the Netherlands’ support for peacebuilding initiatives in Nigeria, especially in addressing conflicts in regions like the North East, reflects both nations’ shared commitment to promoting stability and security.
Mr. Kalu stressed on the importance of food security, saying that it’s a sustainable approach towards having peace and security.
“Peace in the South East Project’ which has agriculture and food security as one of its pillars, recalling that it recently launched ‘food for peace aimed at providing food for the people.”
Speaking on other areas for further collaborations, the Deputy Speaker stated that there’s a significant potential for partnership in the value chain for processing and packaging of dairy products.
He added that the parliament was looking forward to engaging in more productive dialogue that further strengthens bilateral relationship.
“The Netherlands’ support for peacebuilding initiatives in Nigeria, especially in addressing conflicts in regions like the North East, is commendable. Specifically, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has provided crucial support to those affected by the Boko Haram insurgency for the past seven years. Let me also mention food system, if we secure lives and properties and we don’t secure food , lives and properties will be lost. We secure lives and food , that’s a sustainable approach towards having peace and security. I initiated a project known as Peace in the South East Project and one of the areas we want to solve as a non kinetic strategy towards solving the problems of insecurity in that area is food. Under its 8 pillars we have what we call “food for peace”. We have the short term and long term plans”
Earlier, the Ambassador, Wouter Plomp told the Deputy Speaker that the Netherlands is very much interested in deepening cooperation in agriculture and other sectors, aimed at promoting these sectors, strengthening bilateral relations and mutual dialogue.
He assured the parliament of more national coverage with their seed programme so as to not only promote the agri business but also the business in agricultural commodities for young people.