Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, emphasized the importance of food security to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
In a statement by Suleiman Haruna, the Deputy Director of Press at the Ministry, Idris revealed this during a courtesy visit from the Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus, Vyacheslav Bril, in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to him, the Tinubu-led federal government declared a state of emergency on food from the very beginning as a means to curb food importation.
“Food security is one of the key priority areas for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we declared a state of emergency from day one because it is the only way to reduce food importation and strengthen our economy,” he stated.
He pointed out that Nigeria can benefit from the technology and expertise in agriculture offered by the Republic of Belarus.
He also mentioned that Nigeria aims to avoid food imports by enhancing its capacity to produce enough food for its citizens.
Although Nigeria has arable land, human resources, and a large market, what is lacking is technology and the necessary investment in the value chain.
The Minister assured the Ambassador that Nigeria is prepared to collaborate.
“I am pleased that you are already partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture to facilitate collaboration between our two countries in order to boost food production,” he said.
During his remarks, His Excellency Vyacheslav Bril, the Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus, highlighted that Belarus is export-oriented and excels in agriculture.
He mentioned that Belarus is responsible for nearly 30 percent of global fertilizer production, which is essential for food security worldwide.
“We can provide support to Nigeria in terms of farm inputs, food processing plants, storage facilities, and equipment,” he added.