The federal government denied the rumour that genetically-modified rice was being imported
Femi Adesina explained that the Dangote rice project has been in the pipeline since 2014
The spokesperson said the project has created jobs for rice farmers
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has reacted to the rumour that there were plans to distribute genetically modified rice in Nigeria.
There were reports that he government after stopping the importation of rice was planning to bring in poisonous rice in conjunction with Dangote.
In a statement by Femi Adesina who is the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, the government denied the rumour and explained that the agreement with Dangote was actually signed during administration of Goodluck Jonathan in 2014and in 2016, Dangote “cultivated over 8,000 hectares in Hadejia, Jigawa state, creating over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for farmers who are the major beneficiaries of the scheme.”
Read the full statement below:
The Federal Government has described attempts by unscrupulous individuals on social media linking the government and Dangote group with a plan to ‘flood’ the country with genetically modified rice (GMO) as extremely uncharitable.
In real terms, the Federal Government in 2014 signed a $1billion Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) for investment in integrated rice project with Dangote Industries Ltd. Further to this agreement, Dangote Industries Limited this year cultivated over 8,000 hectares in Hadejia, Jigawa state, creating over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for farmers who are the major beneficiaries of the scheme.
In consolidation of the rice project of the Federal Government, President Muhammadu Buhari administration is also in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other reputable companies to tap into the vast potentials in the private sector and broadening the economic base of the country.
The gains of the diversification drive especially in the Agriculture sector are already yielding dividends as shown by the recent statistics in the sector as published by the National Bureau of Statistics.
These engagements will continue until the present administration has laid a solid foundation for the economic development of the nation.
It is therefore ridiculous that a government that is wholly devoted to the generation of employment for Nigerians especially through Agriculture will turn around to get involved in an activity that will reverse the gains of the same partnership.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said it repeatedly that, “we have the capacity to feed ourselves in Nigeria and even export from what we produce in the country.” He has also said that through the provision of N200 billion by the CBN for small holder farmers and processors involved in local production of rice and other grains, rice importation will hopefully stop in the next three years.
It is unfortunate that while the Buhari administration is working assiduously with well-meaning Nigerians to bring the country out of the current economic situation it has found itself, a few self-serving individuals are bent on distracting the administration from the avowed focus to reflate the fortunes of the country through the diversification of the economy which, very soon, Nigerians will begin to see and experience the results.
The Federal Government warns purveyors of such malicious information and those thinking of embarking on the same route to have a rethink and retrace their steps.
The rumour that the federal government in conjunction with Dangote was going to circulate genetically modified rice first appeared in Radio Biafra and other Biafra related pages where they claimed that the rice was aimed at killing Nigerians.
In a statement issued on September 3, Radfo Biafra claimed that “Dangote and Nigerian government have flooded Nigerian market with GMO rice, please note: eating GMO rice is as worst as eating rice laced with rat poison popularly known as sniper in Nigeria, that is extremely dangerous to human body.”
With the recent out-burst of numerous bloggers, only a few stand out, of course our review separates Nora's blog from the plethora of slapdash Blogs. News,Music,Wellness,Supplements, Entertainment,Beauty,and yes... Gossip! FOR ENQ +2348106692263 +2348117103991
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon