Nigeria lost N1.5 trillion annually to rice importation before President Muhammadu Buhari introduced the rice revolution scheme in 2015, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, said on Thursday.
Malami said the country had since gone from mass product importation to exporting over 800 tonnes of the commodity yearly.
He spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kebbi South zonal rally held in Yauri, Yauri Local Government Area of the state.
“Before President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2015, Nigeria was spending N1.5 trillion to import rice from Thailand and other countries annually, but the rice revolution introduced by the president put an end to that.
“Today, I am happy to inform you that Nigeria no longer imports rice, instead, we export over 800 tonnes of rice annually; of course, this is a great achievement,” Malami said.
He said the people of Kebbi had no reason not to vote for APC at all levels.
He cited the Federal Government’s appointments to Kebbi indigenes to include Executive Director, Sokoto River Basin; Managing Director, Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC); Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) and Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), among others.
He listed the projects implemented by the APC administration in the state to include road construction from Sokoto to Kontagora, Anchor Borrower’s Programme (ABP), social welfare scheme, youth empowerment and survival funds, among others.
“They should have trust in all the candidates of the party at all levels to enjoy more dividends of democracy in their respective areas,” the Minister added.
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