Nigeria, Sept. 11 -- Nigeria's new Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar, on Wednesday assumed duty officially at the ministry over a week after his predecessor Sabo Nanono was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari.

At the ministry, where Mr Abubakar addressed officials, he assured that the provision of necessary policy direction to position agriculture as the mainstay of the nation's economy will be prioritised.

"We provide the necessary policy direction and drive that will truly position agriculture as the mainstay of our economy as captured in the medium term national development plan, and the president's vision of lifting 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years," the new minister said.

President Buha...