– President Muhammadu Buhari broke the Ramadan fast with Nigeria’s business leaders
– He said 13 states have been identified to produce rice that will feed the nation in the next 18 months
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– The president noted that he was yet to see the benefit in the devaluation of naira
President Muhammadu Buhari broke the Ramadan fast this evening with members of the business community at the state house, Abuja.
Buhari broke the Ramadan fast this evening with Nigeria’s Business leaders
The business leaders at the Ramadan breaking of fast were Femi Otedola, Folorunsho Alakija, Tony Elumelu, president of Elumelu Foundation; Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group; Jim Ovia, chairman Zenith Bank Plc and Wale Tinubu, chairman of Oando Oil.
Speaking with the business leaders, Buhari said his administration would make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production within 18 months.
Buhari said his administration would make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production
According to him, 13 states of the federation had been identified for the production of the crop and the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, had already been briefed on how best to achieve the target.
The president, who decried the way and manner the nation’s scarce resources were wasted on the importation of food items by the previous regimes, said unless the economy is set right, Nigeria will continue to be in trouble.
L-R: Chairman Oando Oil, Wale Tinubu; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman Zenith Bank Plc., Mr. Jim Ovia and the President Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu during the Presidential Breaking of Fast
On the devaluation of naira, Buhari insisted that he was yet to be convinced about the economic benefits of the exercise.
“What do we derive from that, how much benefit can we derive from this ruthless devaluation of the naira?
“I’m not an economist neither a businessman, I fail to appreciate what is the economic explanation ,” he said.
Nigeria’s business leaders Presidential Breaking of Fast at the state house banquet hall, Abuja
Speaking on behalf of the business community, Kola Jamodu, the chairman of Unilever, thanked the president for inviting them for the breaking of fast dinner.
He said the private sector was ready to partner the administration in addressing the economic challenges facing the country.