x

Why We Stopped Importation Of Food Into Nigeria – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the Federal Government stopped food importation to boost agriculture and save Nigerians from joblessness.

He stressed that practicing agriculture locally is vital in boosting productivity, reducing joblessness, and poverty in the country.

“For us to bounce back to productivity, especially in agriculture, the unemployed with many of them uneducated had to be persuaded to go into agriculture.

‘‘If we hadn’t gone back to the lands we would have been in trouble by now. That is why we virtually stopped the importation of food thereby saving jobs and foreign exchange,” the President said.

President Buhari disclosed this during a virtual meeting with members of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) at the State House, in Abuja,

The president also justified the government’s borrowing to finance infrastructure, asserting that his government took loans in the interest of the country to solve the dire shortfall in infrastructure.

“We have so many challenges with infrastructure. We just have to take loans to do roads, rail, and power, so that investors will find us attractive and come here to put their money,’’ the President said after listening to a presentation by PEAC chaired by Professor Ayo Salami.

He regretted that the failure to provide the infrastructure for effective transportation deprived the country of its well-deserved status as the West African hub for Air cargo transportation and trans-shipment of goods.

On the issue of the economy, President Buhari noted the challenges posed by the “collapse of the oil market” and the decision of the government to abide by the reduced oil production quota allocated by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

“We have to accept that decision; otherwise they (Middle-East producers) can flood the market and make the product unviable. So we have cooperated with what we get. With oil, we are in a difficult situation. The politics of oil is that the less you produce, the more you earn,” he said.

The President also broached the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it necessitated the recent government policies as they relate to energy (electricity) and fuel.

He said the Federal Government took such decisions because it places the country above politics.

RELATED POSTS:

FG Replies Financial Times report on Ban on Food Importation

FG’s plan to stop forex on food importation will boost foreign reserve — experts

Nigerian Farmers Working To Boost Food Production, Promotes Food Security-AFAN President

Hot this week

Gov. Ododo committed to improving road networks in Kogi – Commissioner

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja The Kogi state Commissioner for Works,...

Pathfinder International Trains 34 Journalists, Influencers on Family Planning, Maternal Health Advocacy

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Pathfinder International Nigeria, in collaboration with...

Kano Assembly Receives Two Commissioner Nominees from Gov. Yusuf

By Jabiru Hassan The Kano State House of Assembly has...

My China Story: A Journey Through Beijing, Wuxi, and Qingdao

By Michael Onjewu, Abuja When I boarded my flight to...

My China Story: A Journey Through Beijing, Wuxi, and Qingdao

By Michael Onjewu, Abuja When I boarded my flight to...

10 Key Takeaways from Tinubu’s 65th Independence Day Broadcast

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his Independence Day address...

UK-Based Governance Report Lists Zamfara, Kwara, Benue Among Nigeria’s Poorest Managed States

A new governance performance review has ranked Zamfara, Kwara,...

FG Cancels Independence Parade, Retains Other Anniversary Events

By Francis Wilfred ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has...

Nigeria @ 65: Sen. Akume Urges Shared Responsibility for Nation-Building

By Francis Wilfred ABUJA, Nigeria – As Nigeria prepares to...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img