The Federal Government has described attempts by unscrupulous
individuals on social media linking the government and Dangote group with
a plan to ‘flood’ the country with genetically modified rice (GMO) as
extremely uncharitable.
In real terms, the Federal Government in 2014 signed a $1billion
Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) for investment in integrated rice
project with Dangote Industries Ltd. Further to this agreement, Dangote
Industries Limited this year cultivated over 8,000 hectares in Hadejia,
Jigawa state, creating over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for farmers
who are the major beneficiaries of the scheme.
In consolidation of the rice project of the Federal Government, President
Muhammadu Buhari administration is also in partnership with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) and other reputable companies to tap into the vast
potentials in the private sector and broadening the economic base of the
country.
The gains of the diversification drive especially in the Agriculture
sector are already yielding dividends as shown by the recent statistics in
the sector as published by the National Bureau of Statistics.
These engagements will continue until the present administration has laid
a solid foundation for the economic development of the nation.
It is therefore ridiculous that a government that is wholly devoted to the
generation of employment for Nigerians especially through Agriculture will
turn around to get involved in an activity that will reverse the gains of
the same partnership.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said it repeatedly that, ‘’we have the
capacity to feed ourselves in Nigeria and even export from what we produce
in the country.” He has also said that through the provision of N200
billion by the CBN for small holder farmers and processors involved in
local production of rice and other grains, rice importation will
hopefully stop in the next three years.
It is unfortunate that while the Buhari administration is working
assiduously with well-meaning Nigerians to bring the country out of the
current economic situation it has found itself, a few self-serving
individuals are bent on distracting the administration from the avowed
focus to reflate the fortunes of the country through the diversification
of the economy which, very soon, Nigerians will begin to see and
experience the results.
The Federal Government warns purveyors of such malicious information and
those thinking of embarking on the same route to have a rethink and
retrace their steps.