Nigeria Will Stop Importing Rice In 2019 – Osinbajo

FG Boosts Local Food Production Through Anchor Borrowers Programme

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has declared that by next year, Nigeria will stop importing rice as there will be enough local production to cater for the need of Nigerians.

Osinbajo made the submission on Sunday at the palace of Musa Dogonkadai, the Seriki of the Hausa community in Agege, Lagos as confirmed by Mr. Laolu Akande, his senior special assistant on media and publicity.

The Vice President added that the federal government, through its anchor borrowers programme, had made soft loans available to over 760,000 farmers to produce rice, millet and sorghum.

This Osinbajo said, is in line with the federal government’s efforts in improving the welfare of all Nigerians.

“Look at what is happening in the north now because of the Anchor Borrowers Programme. We gave many of the farmers, over 760,000 farmers, soft loans. So, now they are producing rice, producing millet, producing sorghum,” Osinbajo said.

“We are not importing rice now. We are bringing rice from Kebbi, from Sokoto, from all over the country. By next year, we will not import rice. All our rice will be produced here. When you do that farmers will be rich. Farmers in other countries they are rich people. They are not poor. I’ve been to a country where farmers own airplanes. Why? Because their leaders are not thieves. Their leaders help them so that they can farm; they can expand their farms and they can earn money.

“I went to speak to them in Kebbi. Two of the farmers came to me and said, since this our government (came into power), they have been doing very well. One of them said, “now I have my money, I can pay for my hajj.” Another one even told me that he has married a second wife and I said no, no. I said don’t do that because one wife is enough. He said since he is getting some money be can marry a second wife

“But the truth of the matter is that there is enough money for us in this country. I believe that we must give President Muhammadu Buhari enough votes to lead this country for four more years. If he leads this country for four more years, you will see the difference.”