From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari praised the nation’s farmers on Friday in Daura, Katsina State, for record rice and other food commodity production, expressing satisfaction that the administration’s agricultural policies are working well.
According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu,
Buhari stated that his administration had made several decisions, including the closure of land borders for two years to benefit farmers, who were the driving force behind the rural economy, and expressed satisfaction that these had worked well for the nation.
The President said this when the elected Local Government Council chairmen from Katsina state paid homage visit to him marking the Sallah.
He said “I have a good understanding of the country and its people. That is why we instituted those agricultural policies. I said we must grow what we eat and eat what we grow.
“This is a country that was once dependent on foreign rice. We closed the border to foreign rice. I said why can’t we eat Nigerian rice, and with the policies put in place, Nigerians are eating home grown rice.”
Buhari also emphasized the successful implementation of the Treasury Single Account, (TSA), claiming that money was saved from corrupt government officials.
“I found a tough man (Hamid Ali) for the job at the Customs. One day, he came to me and saying that they had intercepted 20 fuel tankers about to cross the border. I said to him sell the fuel and the tankers and put the money in TSA. Before this time, that money would have found its way to the numerous mysterious ‘government’ accounts.“
On the suggestion by Alhaji Ya’u Umar Gojo-Gojo, the Commissioner of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, who led the council chairmen that the agricultural policies of the administration be made into law to ensure continuity under the all incoming administrations, President Buhari said such good policies will commend themselves to any government.
Gojo-Gojo commended the President for initiating several measures to transform agriculture in order to increase farmers’ income during the last seven years.
He told the President that before this time, Katsina people knew how to eat rice but had no inkling as to grow and process it.
“Today Mr. President,” said the Commissioner, “rice is grown in all our communities. There are at least 30 small scale rice processing mills in the state. People have embraced animal husbandry and they are making a lot of money.”
He also briefed the President about the security situation in the state, saying that the state’s amended security law had brought everyone into the mix- state government, local governments, traditional rulers and the ordinary citizens with each one playing their part in helping to reduce the worrisome security threats facing the state.
Buhari reiterated his earlier statement that the farm in Daura, handed to him by his forefather was the next thing on his mind when he leaves of office next year.