The federal government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has commenced a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Nigerian minister, Abubakar Kyari, gave the information when he received a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. Alfadley.
Kyari said: “We are desirous of a share in the agri-market of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the leading economy in the Middle East, to surpass the current volume of agri-trade as provided by available figures in areas of crops such as sesame, cashew, ginger, soyabean, wheat, maize, palm oil, animal feed, among others.
The minister said the visit was the outcome of the bilateral engagement between the ministers at the recently concluded Saudi African Summit and stated that Saudi Arabia has something to benefit from Nigeria.
“They can come in and partner with us in terms of agricultural investments. We have a wide array of crops that they can invest in, so I believe we have never had it this good.”
Kyari informed that in prioritising agriculture and food security, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has left no one in doubt as to his willingness and readiness to accommodate a range of ideas that can sustainably develop and encourage investments in the sector.
He said it explains why the FMAFS sits on the nation’s Economic Management Team and regularly briefs the National Economic Council which coordinates the economic policies at both the national and at the sub national level, thereby ensuring proper streamlining of policies and initiatives.
