President says agriculture remains his highest priority

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will continue to accord agriculture premium importance through programmes and initiatives that will motivate the citizens to produce enough food to feed the nation.

This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

According to Shehu, Buhari stated this at a farewell meeting with Mr Hoang Ngoc Ho, the out-going Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

"We are hoping to motivate fellow Nigerians to work hard in this regard.

"We will continue to work closely with other countries to re-orient Nigerians towards their active involvement in the sector.

"We believe that the impressive agricultural developmental strides achieved by countries such as Vietnam, especially after the 1975 war, will be replicated here,’’ he said.

Buhari congratulated Vietnam for choosing the correct priorities that had led the country to feed itself and feed the world.

"Your country deserves to be congratulated on this achievement,’’ he added.

Amb. Ho expressed satisfaction with the growth in relations recorded between his country and Nigeria during his tenure.

He, particularly, cited the cooperation with several Nigerian states in the area of agriculture, which he said was producing ``excellent results.’’

Ho said his country was ready to play a big role in the economic diversification schemes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.