FG denies importing 'poisonous' GMO rice

The Federal Government yesterday denied social media report linking it and Dangote Group of industries with a plan to flood the country with imported Genetically Mod­ified Organism (GMO) rice.

An Aso Rock press statement issued yesterday blamed “un­scrupulous individuals” for the report, which it described as ex­tremely uncharitable.

“It is unfortunate that while the Buhari administration is working assiduously with well-meaning Nigerians to bring the country out of the current eco­nomic situation it has found it­self, a few self-serving individu­als are bent on distracting the administration from the avowed focus to reflate the fortunes of the country through the diver­sification of the economy which, very soon, Nigerians will begin to see and experience the results.

“The Federal Government warns purveyors of such mali­cious information and those thinking of embarking on the same route to have a rethink and retrace their steps”, said the statement signed by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina.

He explained that “in real terms, the Federal Government in 2014 signed a $1billion Mem­orandum of Understanding, (MoU) for investment in inte­grated rice project with Dangote Industries Ltd.

“Further to this agreement, Dangote Industries Limited this year cultivated over 8,000 hect­ares in Hadejia, Jigawa state, creating over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for farmers who are the major beneficiaries of the scheme.

“In consolidation of the rice project of the Federal Govern­ment, President Muhammadu Buhari administration is also in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other reputable companies to tap into the vast potentials in the pri­vate sector and broadening the economic base of the country.

“The gains of the diversifi­cation drive especially in the Agriculture sector are already yielding dividends as shown by the recent statistics in the sector as published by the National Bu­reau of Statistics.