Food Sufficiency: Nigerian Government Partners with Governors

The Nigerian government is collaborating with the Nigerian Governors Forum and security agencies to address the issue of hoarding food items, to stabilise prices and ensure availability to the Nigerian populace.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, who briefed state house correspondents after an emergency meeting with President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Governors Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also said the meeting decided there was no need for food importation at this time.

According to him, emphasis was laid on the country’s potential to be self-sufficient in food production.

“First, the National Security Adviser, the Director General of the state services, and the Inspector General of Police have been directed to coordinate with the state governors to examine the issue of those hoarding commodities. ⁣

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“At this point, the nation requires foods to be brought out to the people so that we can control prices and put food on the table of most Nigerians, other commodity traders are busy hoarding these commodities so that Nigerians will suffer or they will make more money as a result. ⁣

“A decision has also been taken that in the interest of our country, there will be no need for food importation at this point. Nigeria has the potential to feed itself and even be a net exporter of food items to other countries. And we do not want to reverse some of the progress we have seen regarding food production in this country. ⁣

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“Of course, you know that Mr. President declared an emergency in agriculture many months ago. Therefore, part of the measures that he has taken is to ensure that more investments are made in this sector for the benefit of our people,” the Minister added.

Idris further added that the governors and the President have agreed to join hands to deepen investment in the Agriculture sector to make more food available to Nigeria.

“The governors have also agreed to join hands with Mr. President to deepen their investment in the agricultural sector so that more food will be made available to Nigerians. Of course, this investment is not just in crop production, it is also in livestock development and management.

“All these is to ensure that food is available in the area of security Mr President and the state governors have all agreed that at this point, we are seeing significant improvement in the security situation around the country of course”,  the Minister added.

Dominica Nwabufo