Ita Enang has advised the federal government to prohibit the importation of agro-machineries and inputs to encourage their production locally by the country’s mechanical engineers.

Mr Enang gave the advice in a keynote address at the 37th International Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers on Wednesday in Uyo.

He said that Nigerian engineers have the capacity to produce machinery and inputs for mechanised agriculture to enhance food production in the country.

According to Mr Enang, a former presidential aide on Niger Delta Affairs, this is the best time for all the states and local governments to utilise available land in their states to produce food instead of waiting for oil money.

“The federal government should ban and indeed prohibit the importation of agro-machineries and inputs from other countries as Nigerian engineers are able to provide and even improvise machinery for agricultural engagements in Nigeria.

“The federal government should halt every action to encourage food import and cause food import provisions and enhancers to be deployed to emergency food production in the country. There should be total prohibition,” Mr Enang said.

He called on Nigerians to embrace agriculture and return to farming, describing it as the only way to boost food production instead of depending on the importation of food.

He said it is far better and economically advantageous for the nation to produce rice locally than to spend money and time on importation. He further urged the government to expedite action toward establishing a livestock and fisheries ministry just like it established the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy from the Ministry of Water Resources to boost livestock production in the country.

Mr Enang also called on the government at all levels to deploy engineers’ research products and inventions to boost agriculture, citing China’s experience in the years of her economic challenges.

(NAN)