President, others hail Tinubu at 64
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday told Nigerians to
expect more action from his administration, saying it will
trigger the kind of economic growth that will lift millions
out of poverty.
He said although some Nigerians had become disoriented
and impatient, all barriers are surmountable.
The plan is basically to:
diversify the economy, which Buhari said could no longer
be a slogan but a necessity; and
use agriculture to save foreign exchange and pull many out
of poverty.
Buhari, who chaired the Eighth Bola Tinubu Colloquium in
Abuja, said despite tough fiscal times, his administration
will continue to make substantial investments in human
capital development.
He highlighted his key plans as follows:
Self-sufficiency in the foods that Nigerians consume the
most;
Stoppage of $11billion annually to import wheat, rice,
sugar and fish;
No more unbridled expenditure of foreign exchange on
things we can grow at home must stop;
N40 billion set aside for rice and wheat farming under an
Anchor Borrowers Programme;
Economic diversification now a necessity for Nigeria;
Substantial investments in human capital development;
Economic growth to be broad-based and not for the few at
the top anymore;
Long-term plan for food security to end injustice of hunger
for Nigerians;
To mobilise private capital to support the Government’s
investments in the agricultural sector;
Social investment policy including school meals to remain
despite austerity measures; and
Nigeria will produce what it eats henceforth
The key strategy of the Buhari administration is to make
the nation self-sufficient in the foods that Nigerians
consume the most.
He said: “The theme for this year could not have been
better chosen. As the nation grapples with decades of
dependence and profligacy of natural resources, and the
coincidence of shrinking of oil prices, the chickens have
indeed come home to roost.
“Diversifying the economy can no longer be a slogan. It
has become a necessity.
“Economic growth cannot just be for the lucky few at the
top, it has to be broad-based, for every Nigerian citizen,
and a good place to start is with the agricultural sector.
“We face urgent challenges – tackling insecurity, creating
jobs, addressing the country’s balance of payments and
stimulating and sustaining national economic recovery.
“ But even as we deal with these issues, I know it is also
important, and indeed critical to focus on the pressing
challenge that confronts some millions of our men,
women and children around the country — the injustice
of hunger and the need for long-term food security.”
He listed the trouble with the sector as low productivity
and poor infrastructure, weak market access as well as
weak market institutions.
“Nearly all our crop-based farming activities are
dependent on rain-fed agriculture, and this makes our
agricultural productivity entirely vulnerable to the effects
of climate change,” Buhari said.
He pleaded with Nigerians not to be discouraged or
disillusioned.
He said: “And I know there will always be some
skepticism. Some have become disoriented and impatient
enough to think that barriers are insurmountable. But the
people in this hall disagree.
“Anyone who claims great change is impossible can only
look at the extraordinary successes that Nigerians have
achieved. “Despite the odds, we have incredible examples
of entrepreneurs who have set up processing facilities,
green house farming, commercial off-taking systems and
retail chains.
“We can achieve more with partnerships that link up and
scale our respective efforts. I am declaring that we need a
new approach that challenges more state and local
governments, more organisations, more companies, more
development partners, more NGOs, challenges individuals
— some of the young people who are here and in our
nation— to step up and play a role — because
government cannot and should not do this alone. This
has to be all hands on deck.
“As the wheel starts turning in the direction of progress,
we must stay committed knowing we can do this. We just
need to bring it all together.
“We can unleash the change that makes agriculture work
for our people and our nation. We can trigger the kind of
economic growth that lifts millions out of poverty.
“This is the renewed commitment that we are making. As
I declare the Eighth Bola Tinubu Colloquium open, I want
to pledge to you today that our commitment to agriculture
will remain a priority for this government.”
In the President’s view, Nigeria cannot continue to spend
$11billion annually to import wheat, rice, sugar and fish.
He said the unbridled expenditure of foreign exchange on
things we can grow at home must stop.
He broke some cheery news— from November 2015 the
Central Bank of Nigeria had set aside N40 billion for rice
and wheat farming under an Anchor Borrowers
Programme.
He said the Federal Government was collaborating with
nine rice-producing states to revolutionise rice production
with a view to attaining self-sufficiency in the shortest
possible time
Said the President: “In the past few years, on the average,
we have spent in excess of 11 billion US dollars annually,
importing wheat, rice, sugar and fish. We need not, and
indeed we cannot afford to continue on this trajectory.
“The real point is not to complain about the difficult
terrain, but to change it. This is why this administration
has prioritised agriculture and food security as the basis
for socio-economic development, not least because of our
conviction that Nigeria has the potential to produce what
it eats, but also that we can be the breadbaskets of West
Africa.
“Agriculture is key to our economic growth and social
investment policies. Our administration’s key strategy is to
ensure that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in the foods
that we consume the most.
“ Maize, rice, corn, millets, fruits, poultry products and
their derivatives can all be produced at home if we put
our hearts into it. Our policy is simple- WE WILL PRODUCE
WHAT WE EAT! It is not only logical, it is necessary!
“We cannot be held up by the way things are, vulnerable
to crude oil prices and our unbridled expenditure of
foreign exchange on things we can grow at home. This is
why from November 2015 the Central Bank of Nigeria set
aside N40 billion for rice and wheat farming in an Anchor
Borrowers Programme that provides single-digit finance
to farmers and links them along the value chain to
processors.
“Again, the Federal Government is now working with nine
rice-producing states to revolutionise rice production with
a view to attaining self-sufficiency in the shortest possible
time.”
He spoke of plans to mobilize the private sector to
support the government’s agricultural programmes.
The President said: “ Next, we are going to attract and
mobilise private capital to support government’s
investments in the sector. The investment opportunities
that we see in the agriculture value chain are immense.
“ Furthermore, we are going to keep focusing on nutrition
for young children. We know the effects of hunger and
poor nutrition can last a lifetime – children stay out of
school to earn their bread, it’s harder to learn, it’s harder
to earn a decent living afterwards. This is why a focal
aspect of our social investment policy is our School meals.
On his social policy programmes, Buhari said he will go
ahead despite austerity measures.
“Now, I know some have asked, in a time of austerity,
whether this is not too much a burden for government to
bear. The answer is no.
“As President, I can assure you that I know the lives of
these young children and the support we can provide
matter now, not later.
“We will meet our responsibilities, so that even in these
tough fiscal times, we will continue to make substantial
investments in human capital development.
“And this is just the beginning. In the coming months,
Nigerians will see much more action. We welcome more
companies that are willing to invest. We are going to hold
ourselves accountable; we will measure results. To the
young, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities
in agriculture are now worthy of consideration.”
Buhari paid glowing tributes to the APC National Leader,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
He said: “As you may be aware, the Bola Tinubu
Colloquium provides a national platform to highlight and
focus on issues of governance in our country. The public-
spirited nature of the discourse takes after the man in
whose honour the Colloquium is named.
“There are very few patriots, alive or departed, that can
match the commitment, resilience and creativity that
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has over the past few decades
demonstrated in organising Nigeria’s public life for good.
“As he adds another year today, my best wishes and
prayers go out to a man who deserves a lot of
commendation for what he continues to stand for.”

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