Nigeria To Stop Food Importation Soon – Onu

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has declared that Nigeria will soon stop all forms of food importation. The minister, who spoke when he paid a familiarisation visit to the Biotechnology and Resource Development Centre (BIODEC) in Odi Bayelsa State, said President Muhammadu Buhari strongly believes that Nigeria has the capacity to attain self-sufficiency in food production. According to him: “One legacy President Muhammadu Buhari wants to be remembered for is to ensure that the Nigerian state produces enough food resources to feed herself without depending on other nations for food security. “President Buhari strongly believes that if a country like China with a population of over 1.4 billion can provide food security for her citizens through mechanised farming, Nigeria with less than 200 million people could do same”. During the visit, it was learnt that Onu toured the centre with the Director-General of the Biotechnology Development Agency (BDA), Prof. Lucy Ogbadu and Director of BIODEC, who is also the Coordinating Director, NABDA, Josiah Habu. Onu said with science and technology, Nigeria has the capacity to produce enough food for consumption and export. Describing science and technology as key to economic diversification, the minister stressed that “No nation has ever been great without science and technology and Nigeria can never be an exception”.