THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural development says it will liaise with
the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to
investigate the alleged importation of
garri from India.
Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of
Agriculture and Rural Development, who
made this known in Abuja, said that it is
"strange and ridiculous" that garri
would be imported when there is
enough supply of cassava and garri in
the country.
He said that the country produces more
cassava that India, adding that
Nigerians must change their attitude
towards imported goods.
"Whoever buys that kind of garri should
be blamed.I have heard of it. I will find
out by tomorrow if NAFDAC indeed did
certify any garri from India; unless it is
some Indian companies packaging the
garri here.
"Nigerians are too ready to buy anything
imported. They will bring in apples and
some of them have been preserved with
ethanol which is not healthy for our
consumption.
"Whoever is importing garri from India,
something must be wrong with them.
Why import garri when you do not know
the conditions through which the garri
was produced over there.
" I have no powers to stop imports, but I
can recommend to the Nigerian Customs
that this is unreasonable. I produce and
encourage Nigerians to eat what they
produce because it is safer for them,''
Ogbeh said.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that
some sections of the media reported the
existence of NAFDAC certified imported
garri from India in some departmental
stores and open markets across the
country.
NAFDAC has however, denied the
certification of such imported
agricultural produce. (NAN)
