Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state, says policy measures adopted by President Muhammadu Buhari on agricultural revival to attaining food security in Nigeria have come to fruition.
This was his candid verdict while featuring on NTA “ Tuesday Live” Program which periscoped “Agriculture and Food Security ; Post Covid-19.”
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu told viewers that President Muhammadu Buhari decided to chair the National Food Security Council in his personal capacity, to enable him provide physical motivation, supervision and guidance, as well as to further bolster food security in the country.
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Food Security Council, made it clear that, the ban on importation of certain food items by Mr. President has yielded maximum results.
This, he added, was because Nigerians were now investing heavily in agriculture and agricultural industrialization.
The Kebbi State Chief Executive, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Rice and Wheat Production pointed out that, President Muhammadu Buhari made it mandatory that Nigeria must not be dependent on importation from other countries for her food requirements.
Bagudu added, “Consequently, Mr President empowered the Central Bank of Nigeria, to diligently implement the Anchor Borrowers Programme.
“There is also a provision of other loan schemes by the Bank of Agriculture to Small, Medium and Large scale farmers.”
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu also said an agricultural economic sustainability package was being implemented by the incumbent administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
He further opined that state governments have increased spending on agriculture in addition to increased support from the World Bank and other economic institutions.
Bagudu expressed gratitude to God for the good weather in many parts of the country ” God has been gracious to us as a country, the weather has been good and the planting season has gone extraordinary well”.
The Governor used the opportunity to inform Nigerians that a twenty-billion naira tomatoe processing factory in Kebbi state had begun production under agreement between the state government and a private company, GB Foods.