Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Sabo Nanono has debunked the report that there is hunger in the land, stating that Nigeria is producing enough food to feed itself and export to neighbouring countries.
Nanono who made this remark in a press briefing in Abuja, to mark the 2019 World Food Day, branded the narratives that there is hunger in the land as laughable.
Speaking in his words, “I think we are producing enough to feed ourselves. I think there is no hunger in Nigeria; there could be inconveniences. When people talk about hunger in this government, I just laugh”
Nanono also stated that the prices of food is cheap in Nigeria when placed side to side with other countries.“ In this country, it is fairly cheap to buy food , ”he said.
“In Kano for instance, you can eat N30 worth of food and be satisfied. So, we should be thankful that we can feed ourselves and we have relatively cheap food in this country,”he added.
On the border closure, Nanono explained that the Federal Government’s decision to close the borders was as a result of the influx of expired rice and other goods from neighboring countries, adding that the government is doing all it can to curtail the excesses.
He said, “Some of our neighbouring countries are using Nigeria as dumping ground and efforts to let them know failed. So we closed the borders to sensitise them on the implications of that.”
“ That’s the basis for the closure of the border and I think Nigeria tried to make these neighbouring countries understand our predicament but to no avail . So long as these countries bordering us will not respect Nigerian stand on food importation , the borders will remain closed . ”
Nanono further noted that the World Food Day is set aside to discuss food production. He urged the public to always eat balanced diet and exercise regularly to shed excess weight.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA
