Against the prevailing hardship with acute scarcity of food, President Bola Tinubu has ruled out resorting to the importation of food to cushion the pressing impacts of soaring hike in prices of food items in the country.
Rather, he said his administration is deploying resources to critical sectors to significantly impact the welfare of Nigerians.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale said Tinubu emphasised that the government would not allow the importation of food but rather turn the lack in the country into abundance.
According to the statement, he made the commitment at a meeting with the Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by its National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, at the State House on Friday in Abuja.
The President assured us that the government was working round the clock to improve the living conditions of all Nigerians.
He called on leaders at the grassroots to encourage citizens to get their National Identification Number for planning, structured interventions and full integration into government relief programmes.
“The programme of our government will be truly progressive; student loans, a national consumer credit system, and social welfare for the unemployed, as well as graduates.
“Every Nigerian will find a place of belonging in our country.
“In the eye of even the biggest hurricane, we will find that place of tranquility and prosperous harmony for the benefit of all.
“Nigerians will all partake on this national journey to prosperity,” the President said.
Tinubu told the APC state chairmen that his government had already drawn up a blueprint for large-scale livestock farming.
“We are bringing mechanised farming to the fore. Yesterday’s crisis will become today’s opportunity.
“Fertilizers are being supplied to farmers as we speak. Agriculture and economic diversification provide the answers to our problems.
“We will not continue to import food. We know how to turn lack into abundance, and the world will watch us do it again,’’ he said.
Tinubu added that the repositioning of the economy was a top national priority and urged party members not to wait for appointment before embarking on exemplary civic engagements.
“As we are fighting corruption, smugglers, and old subsidy beneficiaries, they most certainly will fight back.
“All those who falsified records and became losers with the subsidy removal, they will fight back, but we will defend our people.”
He urged all party chairmen in states, regardless of party affiliation, to mobilise citizens to go for NIN registration.
“Some are poor Nigerians who have not experienced formal education and have no understanding of what NIN is and how it will benefit their lives. We must teach them. We must care for them.
“We will be making faulty moves without accurate data and iron-clad, digital intervention structures,” Tinubu said.
He said a committee of governors, headed by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, is working on what must be done to further lift the people.
Ganduje had earlier told the President that the party was set to establish an Institute of Policy and Development, for the benefit of its members and the broader Nigerian public.
He pledged their loyalty and support as the administration strives to implement its economic programmes and policies.
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