The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that Nigerians can now buy a bag of local Rice for N8,000 — as against N22, 000 obtainable with foreign rice.
This was disclosed by Isaac Okorafor, acting director of corporate communications of the apex bank in Yenagoa at a sensitisation workshop for farmers.
He said: “The development is encouraging and by the end of 2017, we will not only meet our national demand which is between six and seven million tons but have surplus to export.
“We must rid ourselves of eating foreign rice that has been stored for over nine years in Thailand, Vietnam and India. Nigerian rice is fresh and healthier. We should eat Nigerian rice provided for by the CBN Anchor Programme; 50 Kg of local rice is now N8, 000 in Ebonyi. Already, the Abia Government has ordered rice from Ebonyi for Christmas.”
Okorafor added that what had been done with this programme so far was to create jobs through farming, especially for the unemployed youths.
“Nigerian youths must wake up, dust themselves up and join this worthy campaign. Remember that the status of our farmers is now better due to the support they are receiving as a result of government’s policy.
“Our currency is weak because we engaged in needless importation of all kinds of foodstuff, including tooth picks; the government is determined to stop this”.
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