Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations to explore the huge potentials in Nigeria particularly in the areas of agriculture, trade and economic opportunities.
The two countries made the commitment yesterday at a meeting between a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led by its minister of environment, water and agriculture, Engr Abdulrahman Alfadley and the Nigerian team led by the minister of agriculture and food security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev; minister of budget and economic planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu and the chairman of Nigeria Governors‘ Forum and governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq held in Abuja.
At the meeting, minister of agriculture and food security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said Nigeria is endowed with agricultural potential and investment opportunities that if properly harnessed, would boost food production that could feed the entire nation and be exported as well as enhance the economy of the country.
He said it was part of a deliberate move to achieve food production and explore investment opportunities in the country, that President Bola Tinubu recently met with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia with a follow up meeting being held in Nigeria between the two countries to rekindle the earlier commitment .
In his speech, Utsev said Nigeria was happy with the partnership and willing to provide all that was needed to enhance food production in order to achieve the food security drive of the President Tinubu administration.
Utsev expressed optimism that the partnership would also benefit Nigeria in the area of sanitation and hygiene.
Also, AbdulRazaq who pointed out that all lands belong to states said, the Nigerian Governors was willing to channel the lands in their care for full agriculture for consumption and export.
On his part, Bagudu said the partnership will benefit the two countries especially in the areas of economy and job creation.