News in brief: Nigeria, emphasising food security as a top priority, aims to boost domestic food production and reduce imports, highlighting the need for technology and investment. It is hoping to partner with Belarus, a well-known agricultural machinery maker for aid with farm inputs, processing facilities, and machinery.
The Nigerian government has assured citizens that food security is a key priority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, and that it will avoid food importation by enhancing its ability to produce adequate food for its citizens.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus, His Excellency Vyacheslav Bril.
Idris noted that Nigeria has the arable land (36 million hectares), human resources, and large market needed to feed its people, but that it lacks the necessary technology and investment in the value chain. He expressed hope that Nigeria can partner with Belarus to tap into its expertise in agriculture.
Ambassador Bril, in his statement, said that Belarus is an export-oriented country with a strong agricultural sector, and that it is responsible for nearly 30% of global fertiliser production, as a local media outlet reported.
He added that Belarus can support Nigeria with farm inputs, food processing plants, storage facilities, and various types of equipment.
Belarus is also known for its producing farm machiney, with their tractors popular for their durability around the world.
This partnership is a welcome development, and it is hoped that it will lead to increased food production and reduced food imports which plays a key role in inflation in Nigeria.
