Foodstuffs
Tinubu directs FEC committee to implement measures for food prices crash
From the President came yesterday a marching order to a committee within the Federal Executive Council (FEC): crash food prices in the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, broke the news in Abuja.
It was during the presentation of a paper at a one-day capacity-building workshop organised by the Senate Press Corps for its members.
Abdullahi explained that the reduction in food prices would be achieved through safe passage of agricultural produce and commodities across various routes in the country.
The minister said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive was geared towards the realisation of his vision on food sovereignty.
Abdullahi said: “In addressing the high cost of transportation of farm produce in the country, I can say it on good authority to you that the President has given a marching order to a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it, on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural goods and commodities across our various routes in the country.
“We are aware, and I’m sure as media, you are also aware, that there are routes through which commodities are taken before they are delivered, if you know the amount of money that is being spent, you can now understand why those commodities have to be expensive at the point of delivery.
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“So we are working very hard. We are doing quite a lot. But I’ve just given you a snippet because I’m here, and I felt we should look at that.”
On the President’s food sovereignty target, Senator Abdullahi said the vision is within the ambit of food security and food sufficiency encompassing availability of the food, accessibility of the food, affordability, and in the right nutritional content on a sustainable basis.
He added that other programmes like the Farmer Soil Health Scheme and cooperative reform are being mapped out for implementation.
“We are having what we call the Farmer Soil Health Scheme and that is ready for launch. We are just waiting for the date.
“Another important part I would like you to take note of very seriously is that we are promoting, or we are having what you call, cooperative reform and revamp programme.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members.
“The principle of cooperative is clear and is democratic, yet it is also very productive. We are reforming this.
“There’s a number of things we are doing there and I will urge you, as a Press Corps, to consider forming a cooperative,” he said.
Other speakers at the workshop themed: “Parliamentary reporting: issues, challenges and responsibilities,” were the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Senator Ita Enang and the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof Abubakar Sulaiman, who was represented .
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