(Ecofin Agency) - Becoming self-sufficient in wheat production is a new goal to which Nigeria committed. In this regard, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, said the country could save up to $4.6 billion each year from wheat importation starting from 2018 when it reaches self-sufficiency in production of the cereal.

Africa’s leading economy expects at the end the ongoing wheat season, an output of 350,000 tons in the Northern region. With the gluten free wheat, Nigeria now returns to being a wheat producer, nearly 30 years after its wheat yield was label unacceptable.

Ogbeh added that self-sufficiency was vital for the country whose population should be about half a billion by 2050. He also emphasized on the need that there is for Nigeria to stop considering agriculture as a seasonal activity and put everything in place to attain its goals.

Aaron Akinocho