President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration will implement policies to revive Nigeria’s agricultural sector and re-position it as the mainstay of the economy.
The president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said in a statement on Thursday that Buhari said this when Bulgaria’s new Ambassador to Nigeria, Vesselin Blagoer Delcher, paid him a visit.
President Buhari said his administration would evolve and implement policies which would help Nigeria become self-sufficient in food production because continued importation of food could expose the country to more external shocks.
According to him, the continous importation of food has also contributed to the depletion of the country’s foreign exchange reserves and deprived citizens of job opportunities.
“We must produce what we eat. We don’t have unlimited resources to continue the importation of food that can be produced locally. Fortunately, some Nigerians have shown foresight by building factories that process agricultural products within the country,” the president said.
“They have created a value chain that boosts employment, protects foreign reserves and safeguards the economy from external shocks. We will do all that we can to encourage others to join in the efforts to achieve national self-sufficiency in food production.”