The Presidency has warned that Nigeria, which Africa’s largest producer of
\ncereals and grains risks famine from early next year following a huge
\ndemand in the global market that is targeting the country’s surplus
\nproduction.<\/p>\n
Giving the grim forecast in a radio interview in KANO on Monday<\/span><\/span>, a The presidential spokesman said the Ministry of Agriculture has advised “Over the past year, Providence has blessed Nigeria with a bountiful He explained that Nigeria currently enjoys a free market situation. The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity informed He further explained that President Buhari has on various occasions “Building our country into the edifice we envision it to be will require The Presidency has warned that Nigeria, which Africa’s largest producer of cereals and grains risks famine from early next year following a huge demand in the global market that is…<\/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-54482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nspokesman of the President, Malam Garba Shehu told Pyramid radio that the
\n“huge demand for our grains in the global market is creating an excellent
\nenvironment for the mindless export of Nigerian food across our borders
\nand unless this curtailed, Nigerian markets will be bereft of grains by
\nJanuary next year.”<\/p>\n
\nthe President on the need to draw the attention of all Nigerians to an
\nissue which, if not addressed promptly, could lead to a shortage of grains
\nin our country by January.<\/p>\n
\nharvest of grains, more than enough to feed the country and to export to
\nother countries. At present, there is a high demand for grains from
\nNigeria, from African countries as distant as Libya and Algeria, and from
\nplaces as far away as Brazil. However, the ministry of agriculture has
\nraised concerns about a massive rate of exportation, which could lead to a
\nshortage of grains in Nigeria by January,” Malam Garba said.<\/p>\n
\n“President Muhammadu Buhari is not in any way opposed to or intent on
\ntampering with that. On the other hand, exporters also have a moral
\nobligation to make their produce available to Nigerians who live within
\nour country\u2019s borders, to ensure that our citizens have access to food.”<\/p>\n
\nthe radio station that the ministry of agriculture estimates that no fewer
\nthan 500 trucks laden with grain leave Nigerian markets every week, headed
\nfor countries outside our borders. The major markets involved in this
\nexportation are: the Dawanau market in Kano, Naigatari in Jigawa, Bama in
\nBorno, and Ilela in Sokoto, as well as three other main markets in Kebbi
\nState.<\/p>\n
\nreiterated his plan for Nigeria to become a food-producing giant,
\nself-sufficient to the point of depending very little on imported food.
\n“This noble plan could easily be defeated by the pull of the foreign
\nmarket if food continues to leave our shores to feed people elsewhere.\u00a0 If
\ncare is not taken, Nigeria could face a famine by January,” he stressed.<\/p>\n
\nsacrifice and strategy from every single Nigerian. Let us remember that
\ncharity begins at home,” said in the program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"