Dipo Olowookere
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Federal Government has reacted to rumour that it was importing genetically modified rice (GMO) into the country in conjunction with Dangote Group.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide, Mr Femi Adesina, it was stated that “attempts by unscrupulous individuals on social media linking the government and Dangote group with a plan to ‘flood’ the country with the poisonous rice [were] extremely uncharitable.”
According to the statement, the FG signed a $1billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dangote Industries Ltd in 2014 for investment in integrated rice project.
It was disclosed that further to this agreement, Dangote Industries Limited cultivated over 8,000 hectares in Hadejia, Jigawa state in 2016, creating over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for farmers who are the major beneficiaries of the scheme.
The Presidency further said that in consolidation of the rice project, the FG also partnered with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other reputable companies to tap into the vast potentials in the private sector and broadening the economic base of the country.
Mr Adesina noted that gains of the diversification drive, especially in the Agriculture sector, were already yielding results as confirmed by the National Bureau of Statistics in its report published last week.
The President’s spokesman said the present administration will continue to lay solid foundations for the economic development of the nation and warned “purveyors of such malicious information and those thinking of embarking on the same route to have a rethink and retrace their steps.”
He pointed out that through the provision of N200 billion by the CBN for small holder farmers and processors involved in local production of rice and other grains, rice importation will hopefully stop in the next three years.
