President Muhammadu BuhariThursdayin Abuja said the Federal Government
is already targeting a regime of self-sufficiency in food production and
consumption, while radically cutting down on imports of agricultural
products that depleted the countrys foreign reserve in the past.
Receiving Letter of Credence from the High Commissioner of Republic of
Singapore to Nigeria, Mr Lim Sim Seng, at the State House, President
Buhari said the era of high import bills on food was fast becoming a thing
of the past with growing investments in the agricultural sector,
favourable weather and collective will of Nigerians to start feeding
themselves, and exporting products.
I am very pleased with the relationship we have with Singapore, and we
are benefiting a lot from your experiences and investment.
Recently, I was in Kaduna to commission one of your investments in
agriculture. We are happy that you are also looking at the agricultural
sector because that is integral to our economic blueprint for diversifying
the economy, he said.
The President said bilateral relations with Singapore will be further
strengthened so that both countries can enjoy the benefits of competitive
advantage, especially in exchange of ideas and technology that will
enhance growth and improvement in the livelihood of citizens.
President Buhari, who also received Letters of Credence from the High
Commissioner of Republic of The Philippines, Mrs Shirley Ho-Vicaria and
High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda, Nelson Ocheger, assured the
countries of Nigeria’s cooperation on economic, security and diplomatic
issues.
In his response, the High Commissioner of Singapore said his country could
go into partnership with Nigeria in exchange of technical skills, training
of entrepreneurs and public servants.
Describing Nigeria as the big brother of Africa, Seng said an
investment in the country will naturally result in growth for the entire
continent.