Don’t Allocate Forex for Food Importation–Buhari Orders CBN

August 13, 2019
Don't Allocate Forex for Food Importation--Buhari Orders CBN

By Dipo Olowookere

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the leadership of Governor Godwin Emefiele, has been directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to stop providing foreign exchange (Forex) for importation of food into the country.

The President gave this directive on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina State, when he hosted Governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Eid-el-Kabir lunch.

He said the country must achieve steady improvement in agricultural production and attain full food security. According to him, the foreign reserve will be conserved and utilized strictly for diversification of the economy, and not for encouraging more dependence on foreign food import bills.

“Don’t give a cent to anybody to import food into the country,’’ he ordered.

President noted that some states like Kebbi, Ogun, Lagos, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Kano had already taken advantage of the federal government’s policy on agriculture with huge returns in rice farming, urging more states to plug into the ongoing revolution to feed the nation.

“We have achieved food security, and for physical security we are not doing badly,’’he said.

President Buhari said he was particularly delighted that young Nigerians, including graduates, had started exploring agric-business and entrepreneurship, with many posting testimonies of good returns on their investments.

President Buhari said the incoming ministers will be “taught’’ and thoroughly guided to ensure they meet the targets of the APC-led government for the people, with regular monitoring of their performances and scaling up of targets by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

Mr assured that he will attend the Presidential Policy Retreat organized for the ministers by the OSFG, and insisted on compliance with laid down targets on key sectors of the economy that will directly impact on the livelihood of Nigerians.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Kayode Fayemi, said President Buhari’s sense of justice, fairness and forthrightness had turned a major inspiration to governors on the way forward for the country.

He said the challenges faced by states “were enormous’’, but the governors had remained undaunted, assuring the President of strong support and “the very best effort’’ to overcome all the obstacles.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Mr Atiku Bagudu, appreciated the President for the unique leadership style of maintaining a healthy relationship with governors on individual and collective basis, pointing out that they had been “energized’’ to do more in their states.

The Governor commended the President for making bold and courageous efforts to reposition the economy for majority Nigerians through inclusive policies.

“The country is more secure than in 2015, and the country is more prosperous than in 2015 because you are working for the majority of the people,’’ he added.

The governor said the party had been repositioned, after the 2019 elections, to work for the benefit of the majority of Nigerians, noting that “there will two elections this year and we need to work towards winning the two states.’’

Dipo Olowookere

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan.

Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

Leave a Reply

Sanwo-Olu Sends Second Batch of Nominees to Lagos Assembly
Previous Story

Sanwo-Olu Sends Second Batch of Nominees to Lagos Assembly

NSE All-Share Index
Next Story

43 Equities Push NSE Index to 1.17% Weekly Loss

Latest from Economy