The President lauded the commitment of Governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Atiku Bagudu in bringing to fruition the Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2016 on substantially meeting the country’s rice requirement.
“It gladdens my heart to get reports of our citizens rushing to purchase this cheaper local rice to enable them and their families enjoy the Christmas and New Year celebrations,” he said.
Buhari described the achievement of the two states as “evidence of a new base being laid for the Nigerian economy, founded and propelled by agriculture, away from substantial dependence on oil and gas for national revenue.”
He recalled his remarks while presenting the 2017 Budget before the National Assembly that “a new era is rising in which we must grow what we eat and consume what we make,” adding that the LAKE Rice achievement is in furtherance of the above goal.
The President urged other state governments to replicate the laudable example of LAKE Rice in other staple crops and dairy products.
He also pledged the Federal Government’s readiness to continue to support such initiatives by providing the enabling environment, policies and incentives for agriculture to thrive in order for the nation to achieve food security.
Buhari reiterated his optimism that going forward, Nigeria will attain self sufficiency in rice production by 2019.
