Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris says that Nigeria’s acceptance of grains from Ukraine does not make it a weak or failed state.

At the Leadership Annual Conference and Award 2023 on Tuesday in Abuja, Mr Idris explained that Egypt also receives 60 per cent of its grain from Ukraine, and that “does not make it a failed state.”

“The fact that we are having challenges at the moment does not make Nigeria a failed state,” said the minister. “Therefore, accepting grains from Ukraine does not make Nigeria or Egypt failed countries.”

He added, “It is normal because countries exist to depend on one another,” the minister said at the Leadership Annual Conference and Award 2023 on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Idrs’ remarks came a day after Peter Obi of the Labour Party said it is “disheartening” and a national disgrace that war-torn Ukraine is donating food to Nigeria.

Last week, Ukraine donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance to 1.3 million vulnerable, crisis-affected people in northeast Nigeria amidst rising inflation and food price spikes.

Acknowledging that Nigeria is facing challenges, Mr Idris said President Bola Tinubu was working to improve the current situation.

“In spite of the current challenges, the economic growth of Nigeria is on track and has continued to improve,’’ Mr Idris said.

He explained that fuel subsidy removal was a bold step in the right direction and urged Nigerians to support the president as the country would soon begin to reap the benefits.

The minister noted that current national challenges did not begin upon Mr Tinubu’s assumption of office.

He stressed that, according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s fuel importation reduced by 50 per cent after fuel subsidy removal, just as the economy improved significantly.

Mr Idris also noted that Mr Tinubu had demonstrated capacity and, since his assumption of office, had attracted more than $30 billion in foreign investments into the country.

“We are optimistic that soon what we are passing through will be a thing of the past and Nigeria will be better,’’ Mr Idris added.

(NAN)