FG Reduces Cost Of Importing Food By $2bn - Politics

By Okon Bassey in Uyo Through heavy investment in agriculture, the Federal Government has now reduced the cost of importing food items into the country by $2 billion, the Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, said in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital. The Vice-President spoke at the weekend during the official opening of Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize Economic Forum in the state, saying reducing the cost of importing food into the country was achieved by encouraging the production of between 1.5 million and 2 million tonnes of rice locally. Also, Sambo disclosed that the federal government had released a take-off grant of N220 billion to support small medium enterprises in the country. According to him, in the last three years, the federal government has established 12 new, functional universities in the country to address specific areas of development. On the control of Ebola Virus Disease, he said President Goodluck Jonathan took the outbreak of the disease seriously and assured of the country’s readiness to support other countries in the world to eradicate the disease. Commenting on electricity supply, Sambo pointed out that the President had prioritised power supply and hoped that by 2018-2020, Nigeria would produce about 20,000 megawatts for transmission. He lauded the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio for hosting the foundation which coincided with the celebration of 100 years millennium goal and its 54th independence anniversary and for transforming the state through such major infrastructure as roads, airport, sea port, security, health and education, among others. Governor Akpabio had thanked President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo for the proper handling of Ebola disease and the sending of about 500 health workers to Sierra Leone to help control the disease. Earlier, the President of Millennium Excellence Foundation, James Victor Gbeho, had said the forum was meant to generate ideas for the development of Africa, saying the choice of hosting the forum in Uyo was to showcase the achievements of Akwa Ibom State and to let the world have a glimpse of infrastructural development for other states and countries to emulate. www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-reduces-cost-of-importing-food-by-2bn/191060/