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President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman is presently under fire for tweets he made about the global position of Nigeria in rice production.
Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity citing a CNN report posited that Nigeria is the second largest producer of rice in the world.
“We are not the first to say that Nigeria has grown to the second position in rice production worldwide. The CNN which is not a frivolous news source said this. We have reason to believe them because of their global reach,” the spokesman of the President said.
The CNN which is not a frivolous news source said this. We have reason to believe them because of their global reach.
— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) February 20, 2017
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Nigerians have questioned the veracity of his claims.
This is the CNN report. Garba Shehu is a liar. pic.twitter.com/TutKBhy9HJ
— Kingsley 🇵🇸 (@kingysly_01) February 20, 2017
Hello @GarShehu , from another source. We will wait for FAO.
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How you want to beat the first 5 countries, I’d like to know pic.twitter.com/geJU7x0m5R
— Alhaji Ògògó 🖤 (@akintonmide) February 20, 2017
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“While we wait the numbers from the Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO, we are collating our own figures and in the coming weeks; the officials in the Ministry of Agriculture will be coming up with our own position on rice production,” Garba Shehu said.
Garba Shehu further said, “Don’t forget that since October last year, Nigeria has been feeding many parts of West Africa, North and Central Africa. Many of these countries have been shopping in Nigeria for rice, sorghum, sesame and millet”.
Garba Shehu said, “To support the growing rice industry, the Federal Government just acquired 110 rice milling machines which will be installed in different parts of the country between now and July”.
“A lot is happening in Nigeria for which we should be proud,” the spokesman enthused.