Access loans for agri-biz, President Buhari charges citizens





President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the call for Nigerians to embrace agricultural businesses “if unemployment and poverty must be eradicated in the country.”

According to him, there are available funds waiting to be accessed.

President Buhari, who was represented by the vice-chair, National Food Security and governor of Kebbi state, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, stated this Tuesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the second edition of National Food Fair organised by National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) in collaboration with Travel Marketing Partners with the theme: “From subsistence farming to mechanisation at the grassroots.”
He said no country had developed without a vibrant agriculture sector and urged farmers to switch to mechanised farming in order to produce more.

The president said the border closure was aimed at curbing importation of rice in order to promote and support the cultivation of home-grown rice and other agricultural products in larger quantities.

He, therefore, urged citizens, especially women, to form groups and access loans meant for agric-businesses from the central bank.

“The money is there because we have instructed the CBN to make money available for agri-business. Groups should come out and request for agric funding because the funds are available.

“Nigerian food is the best in the world, let us grow what we eat and eat what we grow so that we can end poverty. Food security will also end unemployment,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, represented by a JAMB board member, Hajiya Maryam S. Ibrahim, lauded the initiative, saying, “Food Fair is Nigeria’s way of joining other countries of the world to celebrate the International Day of Rural Women with the theme “Rural Women and Girls Building Climate Resilience.”

In her welcome address, the NCWS national president, Gloria Laraba Shoda, said the Fair “aims at highlighting and promoting some of the popular Nigerian dishes from various sections of the country.”

According to her, it also encourages culinary exchange among ethnic groups for national integration and unity.

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