FG lifts Twitter suspension if conditions are met-President Buhari

… Says agriculture is key to diversification

 …Says Nigeria will soon become pharmaceutically independent

 President Muhammadu Buhari has given directive to lift the suspension of Twitter if the conditions set by the Nigerian Government are met.

President Buhari disclosed this during his Independence day anniversary broadcast speech on Friday.

He said: “Following the suspension of Twitter operations, Twitter Inc. reached out to the Federal Government of Nigeria to resolve the impasse. Subsequently, I constituted a Presidential Committee to engage Twitter to explore the possibility of resolving the issue.

” The Committee, along with its Technical Team, has engaged with Twitter and have addressed a number of key issues. These are:

a.   National Security and Cohesion;

b.   Registration, Physical presence and Representation;

c.   Fair Taxation;

d.   Dispute Resolution; and

e.   Local Content.

 “Following the extensive engagements, the issues are being addressed and I have directed that the suspension be lifted but only if the conditions are met to allow our citizens continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.

“As a country, we are committed to ensuring that digital companies use their platform to enhance the lives of our citizens, respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, cultural values and promote online safety.

Agriculture

The Nigerian government says as it endeavors to revamp the economy through its diversification plan, the agricultural sector remains the most viable tool it has.

President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this in a broadcast to the nation as the country celebrates 61 years of nationhood.

According to the President: “The Agricultural sector remains key to our economic diversification efforts as the sector has been a consistent driver of the non-oil sector contributing 22.35% and 23.78% to the overall GDP in the first and second quarter of 2021.

“We have seen significant private sector investments in almost all areas of the agricultural value chain. And these have continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Unfortunately, as our food production capacity has increased, food prices have been going up due to artificial shortages created by middlemen who have been buying and hoarding these essential commodities for profiteering.”

He said the activities of middlemen would be curtailed in order to make agriculture more beneficial to both farmers and consumers.

President Buhari added that he had since directed the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant agencies to collaborate with the National Assembly in finding a permanent solution to the problem.

“To address this, I am hereby directing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to rehabilitate the National Food Reserve Agency and also work with security agencies, the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, and the National Assembly to find a lasting solution to these disruptive and unpatriotic hoarding activities.

“To further enhance food production, we have completed several new dams and are in the process of rehabilitating several River Basin Development Authorities to enhance ground water supply for rain fed agriculture as well as surface water for irrigation agriculture,” he said.

Nigeria Will Soon Become Pharmaceutically Independent-President Buhari

President  Buhari says Nigeria would soon attain the height of a pharmaceutical independent nation among the comity of nations.

This was part of his  nationwide broadcast to mark the country’s 61st independence anniversary.

The President announced that already, the National Sovereign Investment Authority is mobilizing the sum of $200 million for that will help in achieving the dream.

He said: “Similarly, on our approach to food security, I am proud to announce that Nigeria has commenced its journey to pharmaceutical independence. This journey, which will take years to achieve but will ultimately result in Nigerian based companies developing the active pharmaceutical substances and competence need for us to make our own drugs and vaccines.

“Already, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority is raising a $200 million fund for this initiative that will complement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ongoing N85 billion Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme to support local researchers in the development of vaccines, including COVID-19.”

On security, the President noted that following the recruitment of more personnel for the Armed Forces, they are addressing the rising security challenges and winning the war against banditry.

“In the last four months, the gallant men and women of the military and security agencies have made tremendous progress in addressing these new security challenges. We are taking the fight to our enemies from all angles and we are winning. In the North-East region alone, over 8000 boko haram terrorists have surrendered.

“To support our surge approach to fighting banditry, the Nigerian Armed Forces have recruited over 17, 000 personnel across all ranks. Furthermore, I have also approved for the Nigerian Police Force to recruit 10, 000 police officers annually over the next six years,” he said.

The President expressed delight that some of the Air Force platforms acquired by the country have started arriving, adding that “these will positively impact our security operations in all parts of the country.”

President Buhari used the occasion to reassure Nigerians that in line with the provisions of the country’s constitution, the welfare of all citizens will continue to be the prime focus of government.