President Muhammadu Buhari has said that recent developments in the Nigerian fertiliser value chain is moving the country to becoming a regional and global fertiliser powerhouse.
Buhari said this, on Thursday, during a virtual meeting with members of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) and the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), led by Mr Thomas Etuh.
The meeting was to review the progress made so far in the country’s fertiliser sector.
The president appreciated the investments that had been made by Nigerians in the fertiliser sector, saying that those investments had contributed to lifting rural unemployment.
He expressed confidence in the leadership of FEPSAN under Etuh and urged investors in the industry to look beyond short-term gains, to enable them realise the immense economic and social gains available to themselves and the country.
Buhari also expressed confidence that the country would witness unprecedented prosperity with sustained investments in peace-building in the rural areas.
“Sustained investments by members of the association even during the recession and the COVID-19 lockdown is commendable.
“The increased investments in the rural areas are strong factors that have progressively helped in tackling some of the security issues the country has been witnessing.
“I appreciate the sacrifices and personal commitments to the economic emancipation of Nigeria, through enhanced availability of crop inputs for improved agricultural yield.
“Nigerians should be proud of the sacrifices and personal commitments you have made towards the milestones we have so far recorded.
“The recent recession didn’t affect your investments in this sector even when others were taking theirs outside the country.“Investments in rural areas tackle unemployment, which is the root cause of the insecurity we have been experiencing in many parts of the country at present,” the President said. (Guardian)