The Government of Ukraine has expressed its readiness to establish grain hubs in Nigeria and other African countries even as it has donated about 25,000 tons of grains to Nigeria to boost bilateral ties.
The Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Mykola Solskyi, announced this Wednesday when he led a delegation to a meeting with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mohammad Abubakar in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, Onyeama, who expressed sympathy to Ukraine over its ongoing war with Russia, lauded it for the grain donation, adding that the gesture was coming even when the country is still at war.
Onyeama noted that Nigeria has a long-standing relationship with Ukraine, and lamented that some of the victims of the war in Ukraine are the large number of Nigerian students, whose studies have been interrupted by the war.
Also speaking during the meeting, Minister of Agriculture and rural Development Mohammad Abubakar said that Nigeria is willing and ready to provide the appropriate ports for this grain hub in the country.
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Abubakar commended Ukraine and assured them that the relations with Ukraine will improve, especially in the agriculture sector noting that over 30% of Nigeria’s agricultural businesses are with Ukraine especially in the area of wheat, fertilizer, And other grains
The Ukrainian Minister in his remarks said the grains from his country will arrive Nigeria next month under the initiative called ‘Grains from Ukraine’.
He said “Despite the war with Russia, the Ukrainian food industry wants to have closer relations with Nigeria and they are very thankful to Nigeria.
He also disclosed that Ukraine intends to develop two or three hubs in Africa taking into consideration the capacity of Nigeria, the grain hub in Nigeria is of priority.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
