‘Nigeria will continue to accord agriculture top priority’

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his administration’s determination to continue to accord agriculture premium importance through programmes and initiatives designed to motivate citizens to produce enough food to feed the nation.

Speaking at a farewell meeting with the out-going Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the State House on Tuesday, Hoang Ngoc Ho, Buhari said the high profile of agriculture in the priorities of his administration was primarily to achieve food self-sufficiency, economic revival and jobs creation.

“We are hoping to motivate fellow Nigerians to work hard in this regard. We will continue to work closely with other countries to re-orient Nigerians towards their active involvement in the sector. We believe that the impressive agricultural developmental strides achieved by countries such as Vietnam, especially after the 1975 war, will be replicated here,” the President said.

Buhari congratulated Vietnam for choosing the correct priorities that have led the country to feed itself and feed the world, saying, “Your country deserves to be congratulated on this achievement.”

On his part, Ho expressed satisfaction with the growth in relations between his country and Nigeria recorded during his tenure, especially the cooperation with several organisations. He said his country was ready to play a big part in the economic diversification schemes of the present administration.