President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday commended Lagos and Kebbi States for the successful partnership that gave rise to the local production of LAKE Rice (Lagos-Kebbi Rice).

In a series of tweets on his official Twitter handle, @MBuhari, moments ago, the President lauded the commitment of Governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Atiku Bagudu in bringing to fruition the Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2016 on substantially meeting  the country’s rice requirement.

He also expressed delight at the relatively cheaper price of LAKE Rice especially at this period of recession.

Buhari described what the two states have done as “evidence of a new base being laid for the Nigerian economy, founded and propelled by agriculture, away from substantial dependence on oil and gas for national revenue.”

He recalled that in his 2017 Budget presentation before the National Assembly, he said that “a new era is rising in which we must grow what we eat and consume what we make,” adding that the LAKE Rice achievement is in furtherance of the above goal.

He urged other state governments to replicate the laudable example of LAKE Rice in other staple crops and dairy products.

The President also pledged the Federal Government’s readiness to continue to support such initiatives by providing the enabling environment, policies and incentives for agriculture to thrive in order for the nation to achieve food security.

He said he remained optimistic that going forward, Nigeria will attain rice sufficiency by 2019.

See the tweets below:

I’m proud of the successful agricultural partnership between Lagos and Kebbi States, which has produced LAKE (Lagos-Kebbi) Rice. pic.twitter.com/9THA4mhMdF

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 23, 2016

I commend Governors @AkinwunmiAmbode and Atiku Bagudu for fulfilling the MoU they signed in March 2016, to boost rice production pic.twitter.com/Mu8eAHJvEi

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 23, 2016

I urge other State Govts to replicate the laudable example of LAKE Rice, not only in rice but also in other staple crops, and dairy products

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 23, 2016

On the part of the Federal Government, we will continue to support these initiatives through favorable policies and incentives.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 23, 2016

I remain optimistic that we will meet our target of self-sufficiency in rice by 2019. We will continue to make steady progress towards it.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 23, 2016