It’s been 3 turbulent years, Buhari admits

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, inaugurated the National Food Security Council, during which he admitted that the last three years of his administration had been turbulent.
The National Food Security Council is chaired by the President, while Governors of Kebbi, Taraba, Plateau, Lagos, Ebonyi and Delta states, as well as ministers and others are members.
“Nigeria’s journey in the last three years has been a very turbulent one.
The country’s need for critical job creating sectors which has been ignored for decades is now beginning to yield results,” he said.
President Buhari said government’s efforts on job creation were yielding results after decades of neglects, stressing that, if sustained; they would transform the lives of millions of Nigerians across the country.
He said: “We are well aware that the full results will not be felt or seen overnight.
The journey is long.
It is therefore our collective duty to ensure the actual and potential positive impacts of these programmes are sustained, improved and expanded.
“A key mandate of the Food Security Council is to continuously assess and enhance these infants, but impactful programme, thereby guaranteeing they achieve their full potential.
We shall also develop new programmes and projects that will protect and indeed, create more jobs in farming, fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry.
“As we all know, land is used for farming, grazing and forestry, water is used for irrigation, livestock sustenance and fishing.
Therefore, any strategy for land and water management must take into account the interconnectivity of all these key sectors to ensure equity and sustainability.
“We will also not lose sight of the other issues that will impact our food production ambitions such as; population growth; urbanisation; industrialisation; rural infrastructure development and climate change.
These factors will also stress and stretch our land and water resources.
This means we must invest in research and development to enhance yields and outputs.
“Moreover, we are not insulated from global and regional events.
Accordingly, we develop local programmes, but not lose sight of events from a far and their impact on us.
Specifically, issues such as smuggling and dumping, which is our responsibility to ensure we develop and enforce strategies to protect Nigeria from these illegal and unhealthy imports.
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Signs double taxation instruments Meanwhile, following the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), President Buhari yesterday has signed two instruments on double taxation and illegally acquired assets.
The first is the Instrument of Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of the Republic of Singapore for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains.
The second is the Instrument of Ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Swiss Federal Council and the International Development Association on the Return, Monitoring and Management of Illegally-Acquired Assets Confiscated by Switzerland and to be returned as restitution to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
With the execution of these instruments, Nigeria’s trade relations with Singapore and income there from are expected to rise, while the return of illegal assets would not only boost the administration’s anti-corruption drive, but also provide additional funds for critical infrastructure.