We have reduced cost of food import by $2bn, says Sambo

Sambo

Vice President Namadi Sambo

Vice President Namadi Sambo
Vice President Namadi Sambo

The Federal Government says it has turned agriculture to a big business by reducing the cost of food import by two billion dollars in the country.

The vice-president, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, stated this on Friday during the official opening of Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize Economic Forum in Uyo.

He said the Federal Government started by encouraging the production of between 1.5 million and 2 million tonnes of rice locally.

“The president has privatised power supply and we hope that between 2018 and 2020, Nigeria will produce about 20,000 megawatts for transmission.

“The Federal Government has established 12 new functional universities in the country to address specific areas of development,” he said.

On the control of Ebola Virus Disease, he said President Goodluck Jonathan took the outbreak of the disease seriously.

He assured Nigerians of the country’s readiness to support other countries in the world to eradicate the disease.

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The vice-president disclosed that the Federal Government had released a take-off grant of N220 billion to support small medium enterprises in the country.

He commended Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom for hosting the foundation, which coincided with the celebration of 100 years millennium goal and its 54th independence anniversary.

“I also thank you for transforming the state through such major infrastructure such as roads, airport, seaport, security, health and education, among others,” he said.

Earlier, Akpabio thanked Jonathan and Sambo for the proper handling of Ebola disease.

He commended the Federal Government for sending about 500 health workers to Sierra Leone to control the disease.

President of Millennium Excellence Foundation, Mr James Gbeho, said the forum was meant to generate ideas for the development of Africa.

He said the choice of hosting the forum in Uyo was to showcase the achievements of Akwa Ibom and to let the world have a glimpse of infrastructure development for others to emulate.

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