These are exciting times for Agriculture in Nigeria, considering
President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for the (agric) sector, as an
integral part of the country’s plan for sustainable economic growth and
development.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, expressed this
view earlier today during a meeting at the Presidential Villa with a
group of Nigerian and Mexican agro-business interests.
“President Buhari has said it repeatedly that agriculture and solid
minerals, especially agriculture is our economic way out. This is the
president’s vision, and our job-the rest of us- is to look for ways to
get that dream actualized,” Professor Osinbajo said at the meeting which
was also attended by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Rural
Development, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri. Lokpobiri led a Mexican
agro-business concern, the San Carlos Group and their Nigerian partner
Wells Farm, from Edo State.
The CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Mr. Segun Awolowo, Jnr was also at the meeting.
According to the Vice President, President Buhari is ready to support
the agricultural plans “in any way necessary,” assuring that the federal
government will ensure conducive customs and immigration policies
including tariffs in order to attain the vision. He added that this is
why the President set-up the Presidential Council on the Ease of Doing
Business to attract local and foreign investors.
“There is no doubt in which direction we should go, agriculture is in
the forefront and we do realise the urgency of the moment and the
importance of getting things done quickly,” the VP stated adding that
with the experience of the Mexican company-Carlos, he is optimistic that
the plans and projections tabled at the meeting would be attained.
Under the plan, Wells Farm would partner with Carlos in several
agricultural business initiatives and employ a total of about 85,000
Nigerians.
A suggestion to replicate the partnership with Carlos in the other
geopolitical zones just like Wells Farm which is based in the
South-South was also discussed.
Farms are being opened and talks are already on with a number of other
states in the federation to ensure this. Carlos, the Mexican
agro-business interest is said to be one of the biggest concerns in the
South American country and is part of the story of how Mexico raised its
foreign earnings from Agriculture in the last few decades to about
$398B.