By; Sunday Ode, Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged the South Sudanese government to invest more in agriculture and not to be solely dependent on oil revenues to grow the nation’s economy.
Receiving the outgoing South Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Makuet Riak, at the State House in Abuja, President Buhari said South Sudan could avoid the mistake made by Nigeria in her over-reliance on oil revenue.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari to have told the outgoing envoy that Nigeria’s economy, which had been heavily dependent on oil over the years, had been adversely affected by the drop in global oil prices.
“Investing in sustainable agriculture is one of the best ways to provide jobs for the people and keep the nation productive.
“Food security is important to any country and that is what we are trying to achieve here, years after we ‘threw away’ agriculture for oil,’’ the President said.
According to the statement, President Buhari also praised the excellent relations between Nigeria and South Sudan and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening existing bilateral ties.
In his remarks, the statement noted, Ambassador Riak described his four-year duty tour as his country’s first Ambassador to Nigeria as very fruitful.
He said South Sudan was blessed with fertile land and would welcome more investments from Nigerian companies, the statement added.
