President Muhammadu Buhari has shown that he is proud of the governor of Lagos, Omowunmi Ambode and his Kebbi state counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu for the success they have achieved, partnership to produce local rice that has been christened LAKE Rice – Lagos-Kebbi Rice.
The President, who commended the two governors for their commitment to bringing to fruition, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in March 2016 on substantially meeting the country’s rice requirement, expressed delight at the relatively cheaper price of LAKE Rice, especially at this period of recession.
“It gladdens my heart to get reports of our citizens rushing to purchase this cheaper local rice to enable them and their families enjoy the Christmas and New Year celebrations.”
According to President Buhari, what the two states have done is “evidence of a new base being laid for the Nigerian economy, founded and propelled by agriculture, away from substantial dependence on oil and gas for national revenue.”
The President recalled that in his 2017 Budget presentation before the National Assembly, he said that “a new era is rising in which we must grow what we eat and consume what we make,” adding that the LAKE Rice achievement is in furtherance of the set goal.
He advised other state governments to replicate the laudable example of LAKE Rice and other staple crops and dairy products; even as he pledged that his government is ready to continue to support such initiatives by providing the enabling environment, policies and incentives for agriculture to thrive in order for the nation to achieve food security.
He is optimistic that going forward, Nigeria will attain rice sufficiency by year 2019.
Also, the minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi has said that President Buhari is eager to reflate the Nigeria’s economy and deliver to the people the gains of his administration.
A statement by the Director of press and public Relations of the Ministry, Mrs. Yetunde Sonaike, quoted the minister as saying that one of the core mandates of the present administration was to fulfil the needs and aspirations of Nigerians, adding that government would ensure it achieve its promises.
The minister said that the ministry was able to complete the Abuja–Kaduna Railway modernisation project and provided safety measures at the nation’s airports through rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure within the airports.
He said that there were also ongoing rehabilitation of infrastructure at the seaports and the railway as well as instilling financial discipline in the ministry and its agencies among others.
Amaechi said the focus of the government was the rehabilitation of the old railway lines of Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri and also ensuring that the construction works on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Rail line was completed within the specified time.
According to him, the government is determined to ensure that works on Lagos-Kano Rail line commence in earnest to facilitate the movement of goods and passengers unhindered.
“The construction work on the Lagos-Ibadan segment of the Coastal Rail line will commence in January 2017.”
On the issue of the National Fleet for the maritime sector, the minister said that government had gone far in getting interested investors to come in.
He said that the government was mindful of the provision of the law which stipulates 60 per cent for local investors and 40 per cent for foreign investors. [myad]
