President Muhammadu Buhari has a said that Nigeria has grown enough food and that the country’s foreign reserve will be conserved and used mainly for diversification of the economy, and not for encouraging more dependence on foreign food import bills.
The president who stated this yesterday when he hosted the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to Eid-el-Kabir lunch at his country home in Daura, Katsina State therefore directed the Central Bank of Nigeria not to sell forex to any food importer.
“Don’t give a cent to anybody to import food into the country. We have achieved food security, and for physical security, we are not doing badly,” he said.
He said there is a steady improvement in agricultural production and attainment of full food security in the country.
Buhari said some states like Kebbi, Ogun, Lagos, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Kano had already taken advantage of the federal government’s policy on agriculture with huge returns in rice farming.
Therefore, he urged more states to key to agricultural revolution to feed the nation.
“We have achieved food security, and for physical security we are not doing badly, ‘he said.
The president expressed delight that young Nigerians, including graduates, had started exploring agric-business and entrepreneurship, with many posting testimonies of good returns on their investments.
He urged those without regular income to return to the farm.
The president in a statement by his special assistant on media and publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, emphasised the priority his administration had given to agriculture and promised to appoint a minister who has the knowledgeable and know-how to promote interest and investment in the sector.
“I will appoint a minister who knows agriculture and its role in providing jobs and growing our economy. You have seen how we broke the fertiliser jinx in the country. We will do more to better the lots of our farmers. Agriculture is our strength,” he added.
