Intense criticisms have trailed the comment of President Muhammadu Buhari that agriculture is the answer to the problem of food importation.
Buhari, on Thursday, in a series of tweets on Twitter, said Nigerians have a lot of able-bodied young people willing to work in agricultural production.
The president also directed the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) not to subsidise foreign exchange for importation of food or fertilizer.
Buhari wrote, “I am restating it that nobody importing food or fertilizer should be given foreign exchange from the Central Bank. We will not pay a kobo of our foreign reserves to import food or fertilizer. We will instead empower local farmers and producers.
Many Nigerians have faulted the president’s comments on the resort to farming saying that in the 21st century while other countries were exposing their youths to technological development, the president is forcing youth to subsistence agriculture.
See reactions:
This man is till thinking of hoe and shovel agriculture. Hoe and shovel agriculture cannot feed Nigeria nor give her able-bodied young a decent life. But what do I know?
It's 2020 and youths in saner climes are building amazing tech solutions, being forefront of the manufacturing industry, breaking barriers in the business industry and a certain president believes Agriculture is the solution. A ti wo one chance pic.twitter.com/mnmc0f04XH
Agriculture without industrialization is a waste. Kindly show me one African country that has triumphed economically with agriculture, most of them are known as banana republics. What is the sense in producing Cocoa for N150 naira and buying a bar of chocolate for N500? https://t.co/G07OEeAv1y
How can I get to Europe, USA or Uk from Oshodi, because every single day for this land get as e be. Trailer don fall for gbagada road now Still fuming at Buhari statement that able-bodied youth should start agriculture, like make we all become farmer with no good policy on ground
I really wish y’all would stop voting in Septuagenarians from 3rd world countries. This is how they mostly all think. It’s not their fault. It’s just their reality. They can’t perform beyond their years & exposure. https://t.co/Mz3wCdN1uS
Mr President sir! How do we go to the farm lands with the ever ready fulani herdsmen waiting to attack us? How do we farm without constantly looking over our shoulders? We should tackle the underlying problem of terrorism and safety in our "wonderful" country first. https://t.co/e8lr0HaDls
