President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerian farmers to maximize the raining season and produce food that will be sufficient for the country.

This is as the President noted that Nigeria no longer has money to import food owing to the impact of COVID-19 on the nation’s economy.

Buhari made the disclosure on Sunday while speaking with journalists during the Eid celebrations at the State House.

Describing the situation as “frightening”, the president noted that the coronavirus pandemic has affected both the developed and the developing countries, adding that Nigeria is fortunate not to be among the worst-hit countries

“Nigerians can see that the COVID-19 has reduced us, both the developing and developed countries, to the same level.”

“In fact, we have fewer casualties than they have. So, it’s a very frightening development.”

The president expressed hope that the farmers will experience a bountiful harvest so the country can have food sufficiency and not have to spend scarce resources on importing food.

“I hope the rainy season would be bountiful so that we can get a lot of food,” Buhari said.

“I wish the farmers will go to farms so that we can produce what we need in sufficient quantity so that we don’t have to import food.

“In any case, we don’t have any money to import food. So, we must produce what we are going to eat.”

President Buhari observed the Sallah celebrations in Abuja due to the lockdown imposed as a result of the coronavirus and also banned government officials and other persons from paying him any Sallah homage.

He urged Nigerians to continue to adhere to precautions and instructions from health experts about the virus.

“I advise Nigerians to be very careful and take the advice of the Ministry of Health,“ he said.

“The ministers of health have been doing very well, speaking and educating the citizens on the deadly virus. So, we should be very careful.”