by Sanni Onogu, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a committee within the Federal Executive Council to ensure further crash in food prices in the country, it was learnt on Wednesday.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja while presenting a paper at a one-day capacity-building workshop organised by the Senate Press Corps for its members.
Abdullahi explained that the further reduction in food prices would be achieved through safe passage of agricultural produce and commodities across various routes in the country.
The Minister said the President’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 matching 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.
“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.