Notwithstanding perceived widespread hunger and poverty in the country, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, has said that Nigeria is now producing more food than it can consume.
The Deputy Speaker stated this while hosting members of the Buhari/Osinbajo Social Media Support Group in his office on Friday, in apparent reference to a motion adopted by the House on Thursday, where lawmakers urged the Federal Government to mop up excess grains in the market, store them for the rainy days and encourage more production.
A statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Umar Puma, quoted Wase as saying that, “It (the resolution) goes to show that Nigeria is producing more food than the population can actually consume, which is why there is excess. But government will continue to promote local food production.”
Wase, according to the statement, also promised that the National Assembly would not disappoint Nigerians and that the lawmakers had a covenant to make their lives better.
Reiterating his resolve to advancing better living standards for Nigerians who, he said, always braced obstacles to come out and vote during elections, Wase urged the support group not be bothered by negative information but be concerned about how to positively touch the common man on the streets.
“When it comes to elections, the common man is always on hand to deliver on their civic duties”, Wase said.
“It is not about party or religion, but the good and progress of Nigeria”, the Deputy Speaker said while vowing that the National Assembly would not let Nigerians down.