Buhari pledges support to private sectors to boost agro-produce export

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the government would continue to support the private sector to improve the agricultural sector through export expansion plan.

President Buhari also said that the support for the private sector would also come through other forms like emphasizing backward integration.

Buhari who disclosed this in his Democracy Day speech also acknowledged that the Nigerian farmers had made a remarkable stride in ensuring food security.

“On food security, our farmers have made great strides in a local production of rice, maize, cassava, poultry, fertilizer, fisheries, and sesame. We remain resolute in supporting the private sector in emphasizing backward integration and export expansion plans,” he said.

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The President also said that Nigeria would take steps to explore the cleaner and more sustainable source of energy and curb the incessant cutting down of trees.

“Felling of trees to provide energy for domestic use is taking its toll on our rain forests, our ecology, and our climate. Accordingly, we are taking steps to harness cleaner and more sustainable sources of electricity. We export over 2 million tons of cooking gas, yet we consume less than half a million tons.

“We will work to address this issue and support rural communities with challenges of safely switching from firewood to cooking gas,” he said.

He further said that the government would also explore Public Private Partnership (PPP) to establish agro-industrial processing zones in order to increase agricultural yield and industrial output.

“Dedicated agro-industrial processing zones will be developed on a PPP basis to increase farming yields, agricultural productivity and industrial output,” President Buhari added.