WHY NIGERIA IS CUTTING DOWN ON FOOD IMPORTATION, BY VP OSINBAJO

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

WHY NIGERIA IS CUTTING DOWN ON FOOD IMPORTATION, BY VP OSINBAJO

*Invites Russian farmers to engage in local agric production

Foreign exchange constraints and the availability of arable land in Nigeria makes the case for improved local agricultural production in Nigeria an imperative, rather than continued importation with its significant pressure on dwindling foreign earnings of the country.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, gave this explanation earlier today while receiving in his office a Russian delegation led by the Russian Minister of Agriculture who is also the Co-Chair of the Nigeria-Russia Joint Commission, Mr. Alexander Tkachev.

"The oil prices have gone down tremendously and yet large amount of foreign exchange is used to purchase food abroad and we have large arable land for agric. It won't make sense, if you don't use the land," according to the Vice President.

Prof. Osinbajo then invited Russian farmers to invest in Nigeria, produce and import from here, saying "we are just 6 hours away from Europe by air. Vegetables, flour can be exported to Europe from here, even our local market here is a lot."

Both the Vice President and the delegation that included the Russian Ambassador in Nigeria, Ambassador Nikolay Udovichenko, Russian Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Evgeny Gromyko and officials of Russian's firm-United Company (Rusal) agreed that Nigeria and Russia should deepen the existing diplomatic relationship, especially economically.

According to Prof. Osinbajo "there is a lot of money to be made if Russian technology in agriculture is deployed locally," adding that there are better opportunities for economic cooperation between both countries.

Speaking earlier, the Russian Agriculture Minister expressed his country's willingness to enhance the existing trade relations with Nigeria. He observed that the Nigeria-Russia trade volume as at the end of 2015 exceeded $300 million, but added that there are potentials for improvement in the years ahead.

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity

Office of the Vice President

November 10, 2016

Comments

VIDEO: SAY GOODBYE TO PETROL & SWITCH YOUR GEN TO START RUNNING ON COOKING GAS

Video: Watch how to install DUAL FUEL CARBURETORS & start running your generators on cooking gas. 12.5kg of gas gives you up to 50hrs of electricity - that's about 10 days if you do 5hrs/day. Even at its current prices, gas is cheaper, safer, cleaner, greener and always available. Come see it in use before buying @ 20 Adeniran Ogunsanya Surulere Lagos or any of our branches. Free nationwide delivery or Installation available. Distributors and Installers wanted nationwide. Next edition of our Hybrid Carburetors Installation training comes up 10am this Saturday @ 20 Adeniran Ogunsanya Surulere Lagos. The need to train and accredited installed becomes necessary, as more and more Nigerians embrace the wonderful innovation. Installers currently earn N5,000 per installation and are in high demands across Nigeria Once installed Potech Carburetors allow your generator to run on cooking gas as well as petrol, depending on what's available to you. Gas is 3...

Nnamdi Kanu: Threading the path of extremist radicalism

By Agaju Madugba Violence and street demonstrations in parts of the south-east of the country have continued to trail the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu by operatives of the DSS in a Lagos hotel, on October 14. Kanu is leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist movement canvassing the creation of an independent state of Biafra from the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is also the Director of the United Kingdom-based Radio Biafra. Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, sandwiched between security operaives, leaving the court yesterday in Abuja. Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, sandwiched between security operaives, leaving the court yesterday in Abuja. Kanu's arrest and consequent prosecution may not be unconnected with what the Federal Government considers sensational and provocative comments, bordering on treasonable felony, broadcast over Radio Biafra. Currently standing trial along with some other persons at a Federal High Court, Ka...

Osinbajo, Gowon Preach Humility in Leadership for National Cohesion.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), as well as some serving governors have appealed to Nigerian leaders to always exhibit decorum and humility while presiding over the affairs of the people for national unity and cohesion. The prominent Nigerians said humility in governance elicits stability and removes friction between the leaders and the led for economic prosperity. They spoke in Ikere Ekiti on Friday, during the dedication and consecration of Saint Peters’ Anglican Church ultra modern auditorium donated to the Anglican Communion by a legal icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN). Speaking during the church service marking the dedication, Vice-President Osinbajo commended Olanipekun for dedicating his life to God through the donation. The number two man said: “David was the most favoured in the history of mankind despite not being a saint of any kind. “If you read your Bible, God described David as a man after his heart. Even w...

Fully Reported

Search This Blog