Agriculture Remains Most Viable Option for Economic Diversification, Says Buhari

John Shiklam

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said agriculture remains the most viable and all encompassing option that will ensure the diversification of the nation’s economy.

The president spoke at the inauguration of the $150 million Olam Integrated Poultry Farm and Feed Mill in Kaduna.

The event was the first public function to be attended by the president since his return from medical leave in London.

Buhari arrived at the premises of the company along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway at about 10a.m however, left immediately for Abuja to attend a state function after the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, presented his address.

Buhari however cut the tape to officially inaugurate the Singaporean company.

His address was presented on his behalf by the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh.

According to the president, the recent exit of Nigeria from economic recession announced by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) could only be applauded with its positive impact on Nigerians.

He said the inauguration of the facility in Kaduna was an indication that Nigerians and indeed foreigners had come to term that the country was conducive for investment.

Buhari said: “When our administration promised Nigerian change, many did not know what it meant” stressing that change had taken place in the agriculture sector.

“This massive edifice put in place by Olam is one of the largest agricultural firms in our beloved country. I am told that this is one of the biggest investments in poultry industry in Nigeria.

“We are particularly pleased to participate in this event because it is clear evidence that in spite of all odds, economic growth is taking place especially in the agriculture sector.

“This was our promise at the inception of our administration when we came in to deal with challenges in the economy which was almost appearing insurmountable.

“It is our article of faith and our earnest belief that agriculture offers the most viable and all encompassing options in our attempt to diversify our national economy.

“It is in this connection that we must first be able to say to ourselves that we must be able to feed ourselves on what we grow and grow what we eat before we can comfortably turn our attention to many of the other key concerns of our daily lives.

“About six months ago, we announced to the world that we are in a recession. We announced the recession ourselves. We were bold enough to admit it and we were honest about it.

“When the National Bureau of Statistics presented a green picture of this state of affairs, we accepted the reality and confronted it headlong with courage and perseverance.

“Now a few months down the road, the bureau of statistic has released the cheering news that we are getting out of the fit of recession.

“Even though the statistics are still fragile and we have no illusion that we need to even work harder to get to that economic level that is satisfactory, we are happy to note and we believe that the majority of Nigerians are also happy that we are getting out of possibly the worse economic scenario in our country’s history..... “

Earlier in his address, el-Rufai

said the presence of the company would enhance the capacity of farmers and improve the living condition of the people.

He disclosed that the state government paid over N500 million as compensation to farmers and other land owners to acquire the land which was given free to the company.

“We are able to do this because the state has shown that it was open to business.”

“This was a company that had invested in Nigeria in the early 80’s and had to migrate to Singapore. Your excellency may wish to recall that when you invited me to be part of your delegation around 2015 for the United Nations General Assembly and I told you that I have an investment trip, you gave me the full support and approval to go.

“This was the outcome of the trip as on April 8, 2016 the ground breaking foundation laying ceremony was held and after 17 months, it has become a reality,” the governor said.

He disclosed further that the plant would be producing 1.6 million chicks weekly, adding that so far, about 50,000 jobs had been created.

Also, in their goodwill messages at the occasion, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and the Emir of Kano, Mohammadu Sanusi II, harped on the need to focus on the agriculture sector of the economy.

The CBN governor said the facility is a very laudable investment that would boost economic growth and reduce unemployment, poverty and youth restiveness as well as reduce the importation of items and save foreign exchange for the country.

“I am delighted that the Kaduna State Government is implementing appropriate policies to make Kaduna a destination for local and foreign investments,” he said.

On his part, the Kano emir said the agriculture sector was crucial to securing employment for Nigeria’s teeming young population.

He called on Nigerians to invest in the productivity and profitability of agriculture

Sanusi said he was delighted with the number of direct and indirect jobs that would be created by the company.