The Federal Government has turned agriculture to a big business by reducing the cost of food import by $2 billion in the country.
Vice-President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo who stated this Friday during the official opening of Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize Economic Forum in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital, said the Federal Government started by encouraging the production of between 1.5 million and 2 million tones of rice locally.
Alhaji Sambo further said in the last three years, the Federal Government has established 12 new, functional universities in the country to address specific areas of development.
On the control of Ebola Viral Disease, he said President Goodluck Jonathan took the outbreak of the disease seriously and assured of the country’s readiness to support other countries in the world to eradicate the disease.
The Vice President hinted that the Federal Government has released a Take-off grant of N220 billion to support small medium enterprises in the country.
Commenting on electricity supply, Namadi remarked that the President has prioritized power supply and hoped that by 2018-2020, Nigeria would produce about 20,000 megawatts for transmission.
He, however, lauded Governor Godswill Akpabio hosting the foundation which coincided with the celebration of 100 years millennium goal and its 54th independence anniversary and for transforming the state through such major infrastructure as roads, airport, seaport, security, health and education, among others.
Governor Akpabio thanked President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo for the proper handling of Ebola disease and the Federal Government for sending about 500 health workers to Sierra Leone to control the disease.
Earlier, the President of Millennium Excellence Foundation, James Victor Gbeho had said the forum was meant to generate ideas for the development of Africa, saying the choice of hosting the forum in Uyo was to showcase the achievements of Akwa Ibom State and to let the world have a glimpse of infrastructural development for other states and countries to emulate.