Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State has described the persistent exportation of food items to neighboring countries for monetary gains as an act capable of undermining national security.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Ndace, said Bello made the call when he commissioned a modern integrated rice processing and milling plant donated by the Government of Korea through Korea International Cooperation Agency, in Bida.
He said that as much as government would encourage people into legitimate businesses within and outside the country, national security should not be played with.
He attributed the success recorded by farmers this year to government’s effort in diversifying the country’s economy through the repositioning of agriculture sector.
He said that the effort was to ensure that government put a final ban on food importation.
Ndace said: “If Nigeria as a country produce so much food and our people cannot get the food to buy at reasonable price, then, we still have a long way to go.
“We all have a role to play to ensure food security in our country.”
Bello disclosed that his administration was collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria, to provide conducive atmosphere for farmers in the state to sell their produce rather than being exploited by middlemen.
Bello, however, commended the Korean Government for the project and directed the state Ministry of Agriculture to engage competent firm to manage the facility.
Earlier, Noh Kyu-Duk, Korean Ambassador, observed that non-availability of production facilities was the obstacle to sufficient rice production in Nigeria.
He urged farmers in the state to take advantage of the opportunity to cultivate more rice for the country to become self-sufficient and put a stop to rice importation.
Trending
- Nigeria’s Adekeye emerges Chairperson, APPO Training Directors
- Tinubu appoints spokesperson, Ngelale, as Special Envoy on climate action
- How Tinubu can make Nigeria a trillion-dollar economy – PAAC
- Governor Adeleke to Osunites: Thank you for A-rating our government, entrenching PDP
- Ogene knocks Soludo’s plan to appoint 8th set of LGA chairmen in two years
- Army rescues 386 civilians from Sambisa forest 10 years
- SLTV-DStv: Does copyright still mean anything? by Motolani Faji
- MFM’s Dr. Olukoya backs Evergreen for construction of musical museum