Rising Costs of Food: FG Orders Release of 102,000 Tonnes of Rice, Maize, Millet, Garri
*To clampdown on hoarders of food items
*May import commodities as last resort*Governors meet NSA, DSS over insecurity, food scarcity
*Abbas to Nigerians: your cries haven’t fallen on deaf ears
*JNI advises federal government to address current hardship
Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Juliet Akoje in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna
The federal government, yesterday, moved to address the high cost of food items in the country with a directive for the immediate release of 102,000 metric tonnes of rice, maize, millet, and garri from government reserves and stores of rice millers to the Nigerian market.
The move was the highpoint of the three-day meeting of the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention, headed by Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, at State House, Abuja.
The government said it would henceforth clampdown on hoarders of food items in the country, stressing that it may import commodities as a last resort in efforts to address the current shortages.
Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) also met, yesterday, with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the representative of Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, on how to address the recent national concerns.
Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, acknowledged the current anxieties bordering on the state of the economy, security, and other issues, and assuring of doubled efforts to address them.
At the same time, the Islamic body, Ja’amatu Nasril Islam (JNI), headed by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, called on the federal and state governments to urgently address the economic and security challenges facing Nigerians to prevent a deterioration.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting at State House, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said while the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security would make available 42,000 metric tonnes of maize, millet, garri, and other commodities, the rice millers, through their association, would release 62,000 metric tonnes of rice from their reserves.
Idris stated, “Today’s meeting was, again, on the issue of difficulty of putting food on the table of most Nigerians, and has come up with a number of measures to ensure that food becomes more readily available to Nigerians.
“The first one is that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has been directed to immediately release about 42,000 metric tons of maize, millet, garri and other commodities in their strategic reserve so that these items will be made available to Nigerians.
“The second one is that we have held meetings with the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria, those who are responsible for producing this rice, and we have asked them to open up their stores.
“They’ve told us that they can guarantee about 60,000 metric tons of rice. This will be made available and we know that is enough to take Nigerians for the next one month to six weeks, perhaps, up to two months. They’ve agreed that they will make that available to Nigerians to bring it out to the market so that food can be made available.
“Now, the whole idea of this is to crash the cost of these food items. And these are measures that will happen immediately.
“42,000 metric tons from the strategic government reserve, about 60,000 metric tons of rice from the rice millers association, they have them in all their storage facilities and government, in conjunction with them, after this exhaustive meeting, has directed that they also bring this out immediately so that the price of rice will come down significantly.”
The minister disclosed that as a last resort government might import commodities to augment available supplies.
He stated, “Now, the third item is that the government is also looking at the possibility, if it becomes absolutely necessary as an interim measure on the short run, to also import some of these commodities immediately so that these commodities can be made available to Nigerians within the next couple of weeks.”
Idris stressed that government had firmed up arrangements to invest massively with a view to having a better farming season, in conjunction with farmers and other stakeholders.
He said, “Now, with all these emergency measures, there is, of course, a directive to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to invest massively, in conjunction with Nigerian farmers and other producers, so that we can have better season coming up shortly.
“We all know that dry season farming is happening, that will take effect very shortly, and that we hope will also contribute, because as soon as the dry season farming gets underway, it is the hope of government that food prices will also come down.
“In the long run, Federal Ministry of Agriculture is going to invest massively, so that Nigeria will recover its potential as a food basket and we don’t expect that going forward, we are going to be faced with these challenges again.”
Idris further disclosed that government would view seriously any attempt to hoard the food items, saying, “Government, of course, is also looking at all those who are hoarding these commodities, because, actually, these commodities are available in the stores of many traders.
“Government is appealing to them, that they should open up these stores, make these commodities available in the interest of our nation. There is no point, when the whole country is looking for this food, you are locking up this products so that you make more money and then Nigerians suffer.
“Of course, government will not fold its arms. We know where all these major traders are. We know where all these major stores are. And if they don’t respond by bringing these commodities to the market, government will take appropriate measures to ensure that these products are made available to Nigerians.”
On possible sanctions against those hoarding food products, Idris said, “You cannot hold the nation to ransom. You cannot have these commodities and you’re hoarding them in your stores, when we all need them. We are in an emergency situation and we’ll take emergency measures to make sure that this food is available to Nigerians.
“What do you think about a general concern of high-level inflation, not only food, that affects the high cost of living in terms of prices of general goods, particularly, when it affects forex? When we go to market, we see these goods, we see bags of rice, we see yams in their trucks but everyone tells us about dollar prices to increase garri and millet prices.
“Well, people always talk about that, even some commodities that do not have direct dollar denomination are always quoted in dollar. That is unfortunate. We ask that Nigerians need to be more patriotic. Be our brother’s keepers and sell this thing at a margin, but at a margin that is not also killing to Nigerians.
“You know, you need to be patriotic at this point. This is an emergency situation. Every nation faces emergency situations like this. It is not the first time that it has happened. Many countries of the world have faced this.”
Governors Meet NSA, DSS over Insecurity, Food Scarcity
Governors, yesterday, met with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the representative of the Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, on how to address some of the current national challenges.
In a communique signed by Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, the governors stated, “We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our emergency virtual meeting held the 6th February, 2024 following a briefing by National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the representative of the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), deliberated on the security situation and food stability in the country and resolved as follows:
“Recognised the need to address the connection between food inflation, naira depreciation, and rising insecurity across parts of the country from a systemic perspective, and called for urgent discussions with and synergy amongst stakeholders in improving the situation in the shortest possible time.”
According to the communique, the meeting “agreed on the following immediate actions:
“Reduce Foreign Exchange Demand: by use of moral suasion to reduce dependence on foreign exchange, imported goods and services.
“Improve Foreign Exchange Supply: by easing commodity export requirements to encourage exportation and supply of foreign exchange; curbing illegal export of solid minerals; and increasing crude oil production to earn more foreign exchange.
“Support improved enforcement efforts: by reviewing the extant criminal justice laws in the states to ensure quick dispensation of justice on perpetrators of insecurity in the states; supporting the office of the National Security Adviser in the states to enhance the nature and quality of intelligence.”
The governors reiterated their commitment to deploying emergency food interventions, including incentivising food production, release of food items from strategic food reserves and collaboration with food millers and commodity traders in their various states to boost food availability as an immediate short-term action.
It was also learnt that the governors met with officials of the federal ministry of agriculture on how to address the release of grains from the federal silos.
Abbas to Nigerians: Your Cries Haven’t Fallen on Deaf Ears
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, yesterday, acknowledged the concerns of Nigerians on the current state of the economy, security and other issues, assuring them of doubled efforts towards addressing the problems.
At a world press conference in Abuja, Abbas said the conference was dedicated to “addressing some of the most pressing national issues we face”.
He stated, “As the Speaker of the largest representative body in Nigeria, representing all corners of Nigeria, I feel it a duty to address some pressing challenges we face as a nation.
“The very fabric of our society is being tested, our resilience strained, and our unity challenged. However, amidst these trials, our spirit remains unbroken, and our resolve to overcome and thrive grows stronger.
“As representatives of the Nigerian people, we cannot pay lip service to the plight of the same individuals, who elected us into office to protect their interests. It is our resolve to see that Nigerians, wherever they are, live their normal lives in peace and relative ease.
“As elected representatives, we also acknowledge the pain and suffering of every family that had been a victim of brutal crimes and needless violence.
“Let it be known that your cries have not fallen on deaf ears, and your tears have not gone unseen. We stand in solidarity with every Nigerian affected and commit to deploying robust legislative measures to empower our security agencies, ensure justice, and restore peace and order in our communities.”
The speaker added, “It was natural to feel a sense of despair and frustration. The impact of the challenges I have identified above is felt in every home, on every street, and in the hearts of every Nigerian. Yet, it is precisely in times like these that our true strength as a nation is revealed.
“Our resilience, unity, and indomitable spirit have seen us through difficult times before, and I have no doubt that these qualities will carry us through again.”
Abbas spoke concerning the security challenges, saying, “I want you to know that your government hears you loud and clear. We are taking decisive steps to address the root causes of this menace, deploying both military and diplomatic resources to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians. It is a complex challenge, one that requires patience and time to resolve, but I assure you that we are making progress.”
On the economy, Abbas said the government was equally committed to reversing the downturn and setting the country back on a path of sustainable growth. He said the policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration were designed to stimulate the economy, encourage investment, and create jobs.
JNI to FG: Address Hardship Facing Nigerians Before Things Get Worse
Ja’amatu Nasril Islam (JNI) called on the federal and state governments to urgently address the economic and security challenges facing Nigerians to avoid any dangerous escalation.
The religious body, headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, also called for the immediate release of all those arrested during recent protests against hunger and high cost of living in Minna.
In a statement, yesterday, in Kaduna, the Islamic body urged the business community to resist the temptation of hoarding food items for selfish gains.
The statement, signed by Secretary-General of the JNI, Professor Khalid Aliyu, noted that ordinary Nigerians were experiencing harsh economic difficulties, occasioned by food insecurity, inflation, abject poverty, and insecurity, which “calls for serious redress”.
The statement added, “The JNI under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, with all sense of responsibility, calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to urgently intervene over the difficulties Nigerians are passing through.
“This call is made over the exhilarating pains citizens are airing in both print and electronic media, inclusive of the social media, wherein Minna, Niger State, and Lokoja, Kogi State, protests and other dissenting concerns being raised.
“In light of the troubling impact of hoarding and inflation on the availability and affordability of essential goods and services, particularly food items, the JNI is, therefore, compelled to raise its voice on the matter.
“We have been inundated with reports and pleas from ordinary Nigerians, expressing their anguish over the soaring prices of basic necessities. We urgently call on the federal and state governments to intervene before the situation worsens.
“Likewise, all those arrested during the protests should be released and future recurrence be avoided through synergy and prompt interventions.”
JNI said the call became necessary to avoid further provocation of the citizens.
The statement cautioned government functionaries to choose their words very well while addressing citizens on the issues.
