This is The Nigerian Governor Who Doesn’t Eat Foreign Rice...

– Abia governor says importation of rice should be discouraged – Encourages members of his cabinet to own a farm each – Tasks President Buhari’s administration to get alternatives for survival Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state has removed foreign rice from his food menu.

The executive governor of Abia state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has reportedly boycotted the eating of foreign rice, Eagle Online reports. The governor, it was gathered, has refused to take foreign rice in the last six months as he has reportedly struck it out of his menu. His reason is that he wants to demonstrate to everybody worldwide that Nigeria, with her rich agricultural potentials, has the capacity to fend for itself in food production.

He said: “We cannot be blessed with the kind of arable land we have in the North and the fertile rainforest in the South and still be dependent as a country on foreign food.” The governor informed further that as a way of tackling the prevailing economic challenges caused by the global oil slide, the country must develop a new policy that will not allow importation of foreign foods, rather encourage the cultivation of local foods.

While stressing that this is time for Nigerians to value the richness of our local menu, he advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to look for alternative measures of survival in agriculture. Ikpeazu, who is presently leading an agricultural revolution in the state has ordered all members of his executive council and principal officers to own a farm this year, stating said they must return to land in order to recover its original status as the food haven of Nigeria.

This latest move by the Abia governor is coming after his Lagos state counterpart recently partnered with Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state to put an end to the importation of rice and see to the processing and distribution of food between the two states. The partnership is aimed at bringing about national food sufficiency and food security, as well as creating employment and wealth distribution for the benefit of both states and the nation in general.