News
Despite war, FG imports wheat, potassium from Ukraine, Russia
The Federal Government has disclosed that it is expecting no less than 25,000 metric tonnes of wheat from war-torn Ukraine.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar made the disclosure on Wednesday, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Beyond the wheat import, Nigeria is also expecting from Russia, an unspecified quantity of potassium, which is a by-product for production of fertilisers.
While the wheat from Ukraine is currently sea-borne, talks between Russia and the Nigerian government on the importation of potassium are still ongoing, the minister revealed while briefing State House correspondents.
According to Abubakar, the ship carrying the wheat is expected to berth in Port Harcourt from where it would be distributed across Nigeria and to neighbouring African countries. He explained that Nigeria may become the hub for accessing exported wheat from Ukraine because of the strained relationship between the country and Russia.
Asked why Nigeria is patronising the two warring countries, Mohammad maintained that Nigeria has a neutral policy and therefore can do business with any country it deems necessary.
Abubakar further revealed that FEC deliberated on a memo on National Revised Seed Policy, a move aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the country.
According to him, there are plans to inject Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds into the national food chain to produce enough food to meet the teeming population growth.
“The Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development presented a memo today on our revised 2022 National Agricultural Seed Policy.
“Before now, we have been operating on the 2010 policy, which was revised in 2015. We just also revised that again to 2022,” he announced.
Justifying the revision, Abubakar said: “For seeds, what you plant is what you reap. With the current continuous development in technology, seeds are always being upgraded, standardised with several vitamins. There’s also the issue of genetically modified organisms or seeds, if you will. So, this revision seeks to conform with global best practice in yield
-
Politics7 days ago
Prince Isaac Amakuro Emerges PDP Candidate for Ogbia Ward 9 Councillorship Elections
-
Politics5 days ago
Akpabio’s Alleged Plan to Divert N20.5 Billion Through Budget Allocations Exposed by Undercover Agent
-
News2 days ago
Budget: I Received ₦266m Not N500m – Senator Abaribe
-
Politics6 days ago
Deputy Gov, Shaibu In Fresh Trouble as Edo Assembly Opts For Substituted Impeachment Notice
-
Gist2 days ago
Folorunsho Alakija Receives Over 10, 000 Marriage Proposals From Men After Her Marriage Crashed.
-
Politics6 days ago
Atiku Dumps PDP Form Mega Party To Challenge Tinubu In 2027?
-
News2 days ago
NCDMB partners UTM Floating LNG, Coleman Wires, Cables for local content development
-
Politics6 days ago
‘We will Fight You Till Death’, Wike’s GDI Tells Ex Governor, As They Dump Him For Fubara.