TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says the agriculture policy of his administration is paying off as crude oil can no longer sustain the country.

Speaking on Friday at the presidential villa in Abuja while receiving Hailemariam Dessalegn, former prime minister of Ethiopia, Buhari noted that his administration reverted to agriculture, owing to the fluctuating prices of crude oil.

The president said his administration also stopped the importation of many food products, and as a result of the action, Nigerians now eat what they produce.

“We needed to go back to the land, as petroleum could no longer sustain the country, particularly with fluctuating prices,” Buhari said in a statement signed by Femi Adesina, presidential aide.

“Today, we eat what we grow, and we have stopped importation of many food products. There’s no foreign exchange to even waste again.

“Agriculture has also helped us to generate employment. We have embraced technology, and some people are even leaving the offices to go back to the land. And they are not regretting it. That is the feedback we get.”

On his part, the former prime minister commended Buhari for his achievements, especially in the management of COVID-19 and agriculture.

He noted that he came to Nigeria on the auspices of Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, adding that his organisation is working in 16 African countries and that any change in Africa must start from Nigeria.

“We want to champion the Nigerian policy at the continental level. We should have a common African voice on food self-sufficiency. Africa can feed the globe,” he said.