(Ecofin Agency) - Around one billion naira. That is, according to the Arewa Consultative Forum’s former president, how much rice Nigeria imports every day.

Adressing shareholders of Jamaiyar Matan Arewa during a meeting, Alhaji Aliko Muhamed said spending so much in rice imports was needless given Nigeria’s assets. Comparing to China, he said: “China has a population of around 1.3 billion people but they don’t import food. They are able to feed themselves while Nigeria which has a population lower can’t feed its people without imports”. He then called government to take the necessary measures to reverse the trend. Alhaji Aliko Muhammed also asked Nigerian women to urge their husbands into turning to agricultural activities.  

This speech comes as Nigeria’s economy presently experiences some turmoil resulting from fall in price of oil. This situation which drives authorities to turn to other sources of revenues places agriculture as a valid alternative to oil and gas.

Aaron Akinocho