FG Pledges To Stop Food Imports

Food security, according to Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, is essential to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda.

Idris announced this during a courtesy call by the Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus, Vyacheslav Bril, to his office in Abuja on Wednesday, according to a statement from Suleiman Haruna, the Ministry's deputy director of press.

He claimed that the only way to reduce food importation was for the Tinubu-led federal government to declare a state of emergency with regard to food from the beginning.

"One of the key priority areas for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is food security, which he declared an emergency from day one because it is the only way to curb food importation and strengthen our economy," he said.

He stated that Nigeria may benefit from the technology and knowledge in agriculture held by the Republic of Belarus.

He claimed that by improving its capacity to produce enough food for its people, Nigeria intends to reduce the need for food imports.

Arable land, people resources, and a sizable market are all readily available; what is lacking is technology and the essential investments in the value chain.

The Minister gave the Ambassador his word that Nigeria is willing to collaborate.

"I am happy that you are already partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture so that our two countries can work together to boost food production," he said.

His Excellency Vyacheslav Bril, the Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus, stated earlier that the country is strong in agricultural and export-oriented.

He claims that Belarus produces about 30% of the world's fertilizer, which is crucial for ensuring food security.