Despite COVID-19, We’ve Been Able To Avert Crisis–President Buhari

Date:

Reading time: 1 Minute

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the level of preparedness of nations to shocks of food security, explaining that the Federal Gficiency over the years held significantly in averting a food crisis.

President Buhari, while peaking at the National Food Security Council meeting held at the State House, noted that there was need for more effort to increase food production and self-sufficiency, assuring that the Federal Government will continue to promote policies that favour investments in the agricultural sector.

“The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated more than any event in recent history how countries must strive harder to protect food systems. It has also exposed the limits of dependency on other countries.
“In the last five years we have recorded notable achievements. Despite the decline in GDP by 6.1 per cent in Q2 of 2020 as a direct result of coronavirus, the agricultural sector continued to grow because of government targeted policies.’’

President Buhari, who commended Nigerian farmers for contributing to the stability in food security, said the favourable rainy seasons should serve as encouragement for many to take up farming as a vocation.

“I am pleased to note that most Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agric-business sector. I want to assure you that this government will continue to support these initiatives and many more to come.’’

The President also said efforts will be channeled to innovative ways of farming that will guarantee maximum output.
“To protect agricultural investments and boost confidence to our farmers we have deployed thousands of agro-rangers and integrated rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads.

“We have invested in building our strategic grain reserves in recent years which we recently released significant quantities to cushion the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to vulnerable households and industries,’’ the President said.
President Buhari sympathized with farmers and families that lost loved ones to recent floods in the country, assuring that the government will support those that were affected.

Share post:

Subscribe

spot_imgspot_img

Popular

More like this
Related

Reps Reject Bill Proposing Single Six-Year Term for President, Governors, LG Chairmen

The House of Representatives, during its plenary on Thursday,...

Finnish Police Arrest Simon Ekpa, Four Others for Terror-Related Offenses

Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of...

Senate Approves Tinubu’s $2.2bn Loan Request for 2024 Budget Deficit

The Senate, on Thursday, approved President Bola Tinubu's loan...

Sanwo-Olu to Present 2025 Lagos Budget to Assembly on Nov 21

Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is set to present the...