Olusegun Obasanjo, former
Nigerian President, has berated the administration of Second Republic
President, Shehu Shagari, for allegedly scuttling the progress made by the
country to be self-sufficient in rice production.
Obasanjo recalled that in 1979
when he handed over power as military Head of State, Nigeria was almost
achieving self- sufficiency in rice production.
He, however, noted that the
inconsistent policies by Shagari’s administration which set up a committee on
importation of rice, stifled the laudable move.
Speaking at the Olusegun Obasanjo
Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the former president said the shift
in policy focus sent farmers packing as imported bags of rice began to arrive.
According to Obasanjo, “One of
our problems in this country is inconsistency in policy. In 1979, we were
getting to a place where we would be self-sufficient in rice production, but
then a new administration came and set up a presidential committee on rice
importation instead of a presidential committee on exportation of rice.
“In no time, when the imported
rice started a arriving, those farmers who were cultivating rice gave up.
“Today, I commend Hyst Global
Business Limited and the Chairman, Mr. Biodun Onalaja, for his doggedness,
persistence, and stubbornness.
“It is not easy to succeed here
as a farmer. But I want to say Onalaja is a success story, because despite the
odds he never gave up.”
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