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Clerics task govt on agric, solid minerals, seek dialogue over agitations
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, has assured Nigerians that the increasing prices of food items in the country will crash in a matter of weeks.
He specifically stated that the price of rice would reduce significantly within the next two weeks. He also disclosed his ministry’s intention to supply the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) with 20 tons of rice seedlings in the next planting season to boost rice production in the country.
Ogbeh, who stated this in Ado Ekiti at the weekend during his visit to ABUAD’s farm and the Ekiti State government, said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would stop importation of rice this year.
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Explaining government’s policy to stop importation of rice, Ogbeh hinted that the country has enough domestic production capacity that could sustain consumption and meet foreign exchange earnings that can guarantee diversification of the economy.
To further boost local production of rice and enhance the country’s comparative advantages in rice and yam production, Ogbeh said that the federal government will sign a memoranda of understanding with ABUAD and Ekiti government in the two sectors.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of Akure Diocese, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Reverend Simeon Borokini, has urged government at all levels to focus more on agriculture and exploitation of solid minerals to bring the nation out of recession.
Borokini declared this at the weekend during the second session of the Twelve Synod, held at St. James Anglican Church, Itaogbolu, Akure North council of Ondo State with the theme: “Do Not Compromise Your Faith.”
He lamented that many Christians are under intense pressure of economic recession and severe persecution, leading them to compromise their faith in order to survive.
He posited that the various ethnic groups, tribes and entities constituting the federation would derive more gains in the country’s unity, insisting that dialogue was the best option out of the current agitations.
Also speaking, the Bishop of Osun North East Diocese, Anglican Communion Church of Nigeria, Reverend Humphrey Olumakaiye has called on the federal and state governments to boost the diversification of the nation’s economy and train farmers on mechanised farming.
He made the assertion at the Diocese’s second session of the third synod at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Isedo, Ila Orangun, Osun State.
Olumakaiye stressed that the era of paying lip service to agriculture was gone as it was the only viable alternative to oil in reviving the economy if given greater attention.
