President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the level of preparedness of nations to shocks of food security, explaining that the Federal Government’s wisdom in promoting self-sufficiency over the years helped significantly in averting a food crisis. Speaking at the National Food Security Council meeting held at the State House, President Buhari noted that there was need for more effort to increase food production and self-sufficiency, assuring that the Federal Government will continue to promote policies that favour investments in the agricultural sector. “The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated more than any event in recent history how countries must strive harder to protect food systems. It has also exposed the limits of dependency on other countries. “In the last five years we have recorded notable achievements. Despite the decline in GDP by 6.1 per cent in Q2 of 2020 as a direct result of coronavirus, the agricultural sector continued to grow because of government targeted policies.’’ President Buhari, who commended Nigerian farmers for contributing to the stability in food security, said the favourable rainy seasons should serve as encouragement for many to take up farming as a vocation. “I am pleased to note that most Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agric-business sector. I want to assure you that this government will continue to support these initiatives and many more to come.’’ The President also said efforts will be channeled to innovative ways of farming that will guarantee maximum output. “To protect agricultural investments and boost confidence to our farmers we have deployed thousands of agro-rangers and integrated rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads. “We have invested in building our strategic grain reserves in recent years which we recently released significant quantities to cushion the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to vulnerable households and industries,’’ the President said. President Buhari sympathized with farmers and families that lost loved ones to recent floods in the country, assuring that the government will support those that were affected.

An influential Islamic cleric , Sheik Murtala Sokoto , says the President Muhammadu Buhari has failed , adding that those who are still praising him saying ‘ Sai baba ’ , are liars and hypocrites . Sokoto said this while delivering a sermon to some Muslim youths. In the video which was obtained by Sahara Reporters, the cleric said Buhari could no longer visit his home state of Katsina because of the anger and frustration of the people . He said even though Buhari had appointed many northerners into key positions , those who were given such positions had also betrayed the people. The cleric stated, “ All those saying ‘ Sai Baba’ Sai Baba, are liars, useless hypocrites . The man they called ‘ Sai Baba’ now cannot even go to Katsina . He ( Buhari ) knows the anger that will greet him if he goes to Katsina. “ We are praying that Allah guide General Buhari to make amends, to do better as a leader , but if he continues in his ways , we pray Allah to replace him with a better leader . The peak of stupidity is when these people say northerners have been given juicy positions , but those given these juicy positions have betrayed everyone. ” Sokoto stated that the poor were on the receiving end as they could no longer go to their farms due to the high level of insecurity . He said when these poor farmers go to the farm , they get kidnapped and huge ransoms are demanded from them . Sokoto added , “ Rice, can we feed ourselves? How? They said people should go to the farm but when you go to the farm you will be kidnapped . You ( Buhari ) said we should cultivate our farms in the North, go and see all over the North. An example is Katsina , go to Sokoto, Zamfara . “ In these places , those who go to the farm are always abducted by criminals and a ransom of N 2m to N 3m will be made …! How can a village farmer afford N 3m ? Are we really serious? Because of cruelty and wickedness , they are saying we should be patient , but for how long shall we be more patient ? Patience is something the prophet has given us conditions for . We have had enough of this oppressive government . ” Sokoto said no one should accept the lame excuse that the suffering of the people was the will of Allah. The cleric said with food shortages caused by the inability of farmers to harvest their crops , they hoped to import food but Buhari ordered the closure of all land borders which worsened their plight. He said , “ We will continue to talk about Zakkat , but first I have to talk to you about the difficult situation our country is in now . The country is in disarray. Is this country not already in trouble ? Is that not true? The old man ( Buhari ) had pushed us all to the wall . Hasn ’ t he pushed us to the wall ? Hasn ’ t he ? Whatever noise that will be made , whatever evil sermon they are giving you is useless. Don’ t listen to those stupid excuses that it is Allah that is putting us through this . “ If you believe this illogic ; go and take a sword and slaughter a human being and then claim it is Allah that caused it . He who was merciful to people , Allah, will be merciful to him . What point am I trying to make? “ The point is , the poverty and hardship we are facing now are caused by the Federal Government . They claimed there was hardship during the prophet ’ s time but our suffering today is because borders have been closed . We get food through these borders but they have been closed out of the cruelty of Buhari . ” Sokoto noted that during the electioneering , the poor contributed money to Buhari ’ s campaign with the hope that he would put them first . He called on Buhari to immediately change his ways or he will pray to God to remove him. “ Poor Nigerians have you in their tongues every day. They contributed N 5, 000, N 2, 000 they financed the campaign of General Buhari . But they are being paid with suffering . Sunnah clerics told us Buhari is a good person , but what we have now is a different Buhari . We pray Buhari changes for better, if not we will pray to Allah to remove him . ” Hundreds of youths had taken to the streets of Katsina in June , lambasting the President and defacing his billboards for failing to address the insecurity in the state. Some of the youths were arrested by the police for embarrassing the President but were later released. Global rights group , Amnesty International , had in a report last month stated that 1, 126 villagers were killed in Kaduna , Katsina, Niger, Zamfara , Plateau , Sokoto, and Taraba States between January and June 2020.