Importation of rice unacceptable - Jonathan •As FG attracts $7.8bn investment into Agric sector
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said that the continued importation of rice into the country is unacceptable.
He reiterated that his government would do all that is necessary to put an end to it by 2015 and save the country about N1billion per day.
Speaking during the inaugural meeting of the Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, he said the nation's private sector was demonstrating increasing capacity in producing quality rice locally.
"It is unacceptable that Nigeria is still importing rice. This administration is, therefore, determined to ensure that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in rice production by 2015, so as to reduce the current level of N1billion per day spent on rice importation," he said.
According to him, in the last 12 months, 13 new private sector rice mills had come up with a total capacity of 240,000 metric tonnes, while the demand for locally produced rice was rising.
The president's remark came on a day that it was revealed that about $7.8 billion investment had been attracted into the agriculture sector this year alone, with agriculture output hitting 8.1million metric tonnes.
President Jonathan observed that the council's first meeting was coming at a time when many parts of the country were being ravaged by unprecedented flooding, which could have adverse effects on farm produce.
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