President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that his administration will continue to accord agriculture premium importance through programmes and initiatives designed to motivate the citizens to produce enough food to feed the nation.

He spoke Tuesday at the State House at a farewell meeting with Mr. Hoang Ngoc Ho, the out-going Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Buhari said the high profile of agriculture in the priorities of his administration was primarily to achieve food self-sufficiency, economic revival and job creation.

“We are hoping to motivate fellow Nigerians to work hard in this regard. We will continue to work closely with other countries to re-orient Nigerians towards their active involvement in the sector. We believe that the impressive agricultural developmental strides achieved by countries such as Vietnam, especially after the 1975 war, will be replicated here,” the President said.

He congratulated Vietnam for choosing the correct priorities that have led the country to feed itself and feed the world.

“Your country deserves to be congratulated on this achievement,” the President told the Ambassador.

Ambassador Ho expressed satisfaction with the growth in relations between his country and Nigeria recorded during his tenure, citing especially the cooperation with several Nigerian states in the area of agriculture which is producing excellent results.

He said his country was ready to play a big part in the economic diversification schemes of the Buhari administration.

•State House Photo shows President Buhari exchanging pleasantries with Mr. Hoang Ngoc Ho, the out-going Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam . . . Tuesday at the State House Abuja.