President Muhammadu Buhari has expressly noted the current administration’s plan to discontinue with food importation.
He therefore called for the consumption of what is produced internally. This was part of his statement in Abuja on Thursday in an audience with the new Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Vesselin Blagoer Delcher.
‘‘We must produce what we eat. We don’t have unlimited resources to continue the importation of food items that can be produced locally.
“Fortunately, some Nigerians have shown foresight by building factories that process agricultural products within the country.
‘‘They have created a value chain that boosts employment, protects our foreign reserves and safeguards the economy from external shocks.
“We will do all that we can to encourage others to join in the effort to achieve national self-sufficiency in food production,” President Buhari said.
In a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the president said that his administration will evolve and implement policies that will help Nigeria become self-sufficient in food production because continued importation of food could expose the country to more external shocks.
Buhari noted that the unbridled importation of food also contributes to the depletion of the country’s foreign reserves and deprives citizens of job opportunities.
Therefore, the president promised that his administration will help and encourage Nigerian farmers to adopt modern, technology-driven methods that guarantee higher production and returns on investment.