The Federal Government in collaboration with state Governors have agreed to set up a committee to tackle the issue of hoarding of farm produce in the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this after the meeting President Bola Tinubu held with governors, heads of Security Agencies and some ministers at the Presidential villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
Addressing State House correspondents, the information minister, who accused some traders of hoarding food products, said the security agencies have been mandated to liaise with governors to tackle the menace.
The meeting also considered the increase in the number of Forest Rangers across the country to effectively protect the forests and allow farmers to go back to their farms.
Among the issues also considered was the establishment of State Police, even as the minister said more meetings and discussions would still be held on the issue to find a common ground on the implication process.
According to the minister, “Mr. President has agreed to set up a committee to deepen the conversation that has happened at the just-concluded meeting. Of course, you know that it is impossible to complete most of the issues that were raised at the meeting so is going to be a continuous one.
“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 look at the issue of those hoarding commodities.
“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.
“So the governors and Mr. President have taken this decision that security agencies will collaborate with the state governors to ensure that this ends.”
He however stated that the issue of food importation has been rested for now.
”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 also want to reverse some of the progress we have seen in terms of food production in this country.
“What we’re seeing now is just a temporary difficulty that will soon go away. Therefore, the solution to it is by continuous investment in agriculture so that food can be made available to all Nigerians.
” Of course,you know that Mr. President has declared emergency in agriculture many months ago. Therefore, part of the measures that he has taken is to ensure that investments, more investments are made in this sector for the benefit of our people.”
He said there have been significant improvement in areas where farmers have not been able to cultivate as a result of security.
“Those farmers have now returned to their farms. It is the same thing in Jigawa and many parts of the country. The governors, including the governor of Plateau State, has also attested to the fact that despite all the challenges that we’re having, there appears to be improvement in security in these areas.
”Mr. President and the governors also thank the security agencies for the work they are doing. Some of them even pay the supreme price with their lives to ensure that Nigerians have a secure environment. They have thanked Mr. president for all that he’s doing. And they have also asked him to do more so that at the end of the day, we will have a completely secured Nigeria.
“Now in this direction. Mr. President and the state governors have also discussed the possibility of improving the numeric strength of forest rangers to train them so that they can keep our forests and our borders very safe.”
