Buhari at Anchor borrowers flag off
Top Story

Farmers sticking with Buhari, donate N1.77bn to campaign

207

The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), and Fertilizers Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) Wednesday night donated the sum of N1.77 billion to fund the re-election campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari in the forth coming elections in 2019.

They made the announcement during a Gala Night organised by beneficiaries of the government’s Anchor Borrowers Programme held at the State House Conference Center, Abuja. 

President of RIFAN, Aminu Goronyo, said with membership of about 12.2 million and with each member donating N100 to the campaign, it will translate to N1.2 billion. 

President of FEPSAN, Thomas Etuh, on his part announced that FEPSAN is contributing N570 million to the re-election bid of the president.  

They both testified to how the Programme has changed the fortunes of the agriculture sector, which they described as unprecedented empowerment Programme. 

Goronyo said apart from the increasing progress in the sector, the President’s policies have also resulted in savings of billions of naira for the country.  

According to him, “all these achievements are from your commitments and favorable policies to agriculture.”

Etuh, on his part said N120 billion was saved in two years from fertilizer subsidy. 

President Buhari, noted that statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have confirmed that his administration’s policies are yielding results.

He said he inherited “a broken system in the agricultural sector in 2015”.

“Seeing your faces and hearing your stories give me hope. Today, we are on track to achieving an all inclusive economy”.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to commence the restocking of all its Strategic Grains Reserves nationwide

He said the directive had become imperative following the completion of a comprehensive survey on damages done to farmers and fishing communities in the riverine areas as a result of flood disaster.

He said the report indicated that over 160,000 farmers and additional 70,000 fishermen were affected by the disaster.

“For about three months the National Food Security Council working with the National Emergency Management Agency conducted comprehensive survey of the farmers, fishermen and livestock owners affected by the flood disaster,” he said.

He thanked the organisers of the event, and assured that the federal government would continue to implement policies and programmes meant to uplift the standard of living of the Nigerian farmers as well as boost food sufficiency in the country.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Godwin Emefuele said the Anchor Borrowers programme launched on the November, 17, 2015 has resulted in the saving of $800 million. 

He said import bills before the introduction of the programme was as high as N1.4 trillion annually, adding that the programme has been created 2.5 million jobs from rice farming alone. 

The CBN governor who described the programme as the most successful anchor programme in Africa, added that “It has raised the standard of our farmers.

“The program is changing the narrative of agricultural investments in Nigeria.

“It has brought the era of food security and sustenance leading to a cut in forex being used for importation of rice and other food items into the country,” he said.

Emefiele stated the programme had received support from stakeholders across the country including state governors.

The CBN governor revealed that the bank was also in partnership with other commodity associations who were working to reduce importation bills and to create jobs.  

Leave a comment

Related Articles

ECOWAS, Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania Commit to $26bln African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project

“The project, conceived in 2016 during King Mohammed VI of Morocco’s visit...

#EndBadGovernance protests: AGF to Police: Transfer casefiles of 72 defendants to my office

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince...

Updated: Abuja Court grants N1.1 bln bail to 114 #EndBadGovernance protesters

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a N10 million bail...

Just in: 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters arraigned in Abuja

The detained 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters just arrived at the Federal High Court...

Breaking: 10 fatalities confirmed as building collapses in Ibadan

A weehours building collapse in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday...

Breaking: After five hours of screening, Senate confirms Bianca Ojukwu, six others as ministers

The Senate on Wednesday screened and confirmed the nominations of Ambassador Bianca...

Senate begins screening of seven ministerial nominees

The Senate has started screening the seven ministerial nominees of President Bola...

Alleged homosexuality: RCCG suspends two pastors, launches investigation

For allegedly breaching the church’s doctrine and the Holy Bible, two pastors...

Helicopter crash: NNPC Ltd. spokesman Soneye cancels golden jubilee birthday celebration in honour of departed souls

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer of the Nigerian National...

Biden in 30-minute phone call with Tinubu, hails Binance executive release

President Bola Tinubu and US President Joe Biden held a 30-minute phone...

Tinubu Receives Briefing on Local Currency Oil Sales Amid Pricing Disputes

President Bola Tinubu has received a briefing from the Implementation Committee on...

Kcee and Flavour engage in heated exchange over Igbo music style

The Nigerian music industry is once again witnessing a brewing fiery clash...

In Lagos, 150 Ajegunle widows, vulnerable lifted with food items, cash gifts

As part of efforts to provide succor and the much-needed support to...

Economic hardship: I’m not T-pain, you are mischievous, Tinubu replies Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has come under fire from the Presidency...

Just in: Air Peace denies plan to hike Lagos-Abuja airfare

Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, has dismissed rumours about raising...

Updated: Copter Crash: Search Still Ongoing, No Other Additional Bodies Found – NNPC Ltd’s Spokesman Soneyea

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd) has said beyond the...

Nigeria joins BRICS as partner country, to boost economic ties

Nigeria has become a partner country of the BRICS economic bloc, alongside...

Commonwealth summit: Broken aircraft windscreen aborts Shettima’s trip

Following the damage to the cockpit windscreen of his plane at JFK...

Port Harcourt chopper crash: Three bodies recovered

A helicopter crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has claimed the lives...