President Bola Tinubu has asked a committee of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to come up with new measures that will help bring down food prices across the country.
This was revealed by Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, during a capacity-building workshop for journalists covering the Senate in Abuja on Wednesday. Abdullahi, a former Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, said the move is part of Tinubu’s vision of achieving food security and ensuring that Nigerians have access to affordable food.
Tackling High Transportation Costs
The minister explained that the cost of moving farm produce from one part of the country to another is one of the major reasons food items are expensive.
“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,” he said.
He noted that the government is working on policies that will ensure the safe passage of agricultural commodities across different routes in the country, which should help reduce costs for consumers.
Food Security and Sovereignty
Abdullahi added that the government’s vision for food sovereignty goes beyond food supply. It also focuses on availability, accessibility, affordability, and proper nutrition on a sustainable basis.
He said initiatives like the farmer soil health scheme are ready for launch, aimed at improving soil quality for better crop production.
Cooperative Reforms
The minister also highlighted the government’s plan to revamp cooperative societies, describing them as powerful tools for mobilising resources, creating economic opportunities, and improving livelihoods.
“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,” Abdullahi said.
He encouraged journalists at the workshop to also consider forming a cooperative, stressing that the principle of cooperation is democratic, productive, and beneficial.
The workshop, themed “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured other speakers, including Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs; Ita Enang, former senator; and Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
