The Federal Government has described\u00a0 attempts by\u00a0 unscrupulous
\nindividuals on social media\u00a0 linking the government and Dangote group with
\na plan to \u2018flood\u2019 the country with genetically modified rice (GMO) as
\nextremely uncharitable.<\/p>\n
In real terms, the Federal Government\u00a0 in 2014 signed a $1billion
\nMemorandum of Understanding, (MoU) for investment in integrated rice
\nproject\u00a0 with Dangote Industries Ltd. Further to this agreement, Dangote
\nIndustries Limited this year cultivated over 8,000 hectares in Hadejia,
\nJigawa state, creating over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for farmers
\nwho are the major beneficiaries of the scheme.<\/p>\n
In consolidation of the rice project of the Federal Government, President
\nMuhammadu Buhari administration is also in partnership with the African
\nDevelopment Bank (AfDB) and other reputable companies to tap into the vast
\npotentials in the private sector and broadening the economic base of the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The gains of the diversification drive especially in the Agriculture
\nsector are already yielding dividends as shown by the recent statistics in
\nthe sector as published by the National Bureau of Statistics.<\/p>\n
These engagements will continue until the present administration has laid
\na solid foundation for the economic development of the nation.<\/p>\n
It is therefore ridiculous that a government that is wholly devoted to the
\ngeneration of employment for Nigerians especially through Agriculture will
\nturn around to get involved in an activity that will reverse the gains of
\nthe same partnership.<\/p>\n
President Muhammadu Buhari has said it repeatedly that, \u2018\u2019we have the
\ncapacity to feed ourselves in Nigeria and even export from what we produce
\nin the country.\u201d He has also said that through the provision of N200
\nbillion by the CBN for small holder farmers and processors involved in
\nlocal production of rice and other grains, rice importation\u00a0 will
\nhopefully stop\u00a0 in the next three years.<\/p>\n
It is unfortunate that while the Buhari administration is working
\nassiduously with well-meaning Nigerians to bring the country out of the
\ncurrent economic situation it has found itself, a few self-serving
\nindividuals are bent on distracting the administration from the avowed
\nfocus to reflate the fortunes of the country through the diversification
\nof the economy which, very soon, Nigerians will begin to see and
\nexperience the results.<\/p>\n
The Federal Government warns purveyors of such malicious information and
\nthose thinking of embarking on the same route to have a rethink and
\nretrace their steps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Federal Government has described\u00a0 attempts by\u00a0 unscrupulous individuals on social media\u00a0 linking the government and Dangote group with a plan to \u2018flood\u2019 the country with genetically modified rice (GMO)…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":52812,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n