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Iheanyi Chukwudi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday took a decisive action on the alarming increase in food inflation nationwide by declaring a state of emergency on food security.
The decision and pronouncement was made at a meeting President Tinubu had with stakeholders on agriculture and food production value-chain.
Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, who made this known to newsmen after the said meeting said that measures in the action plan will include an immediate release of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.
Alake said, “As a hands-on-leader who follows developments across the country every day, Mr. President is not unmindful of the rising cost of food and how it affects the citizens.
“While availability is not a problem, affordability has been a major issue to many Nigerians in all parts of the country. This has led a significant drop in demand thereby undermining the viability of the entire agriculture and food value chain."
“Accordingly, in line with this administration’s position on ensuring that the most vulnerable are supported, Mr. President has declared, with immediate effect the following actions: That a state of emergency on food security be announced immediately,"
Giving details of the Presidential Intervention on Food Security, Food Pricing and Sustainability to newsmen, Alake also disclosed that the President has approved that all matters pertaining to food and water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.
“That all matters pertaining to food and water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council," the Presidential Spokesman said.
Alake briefed newsmen alongside Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zacch Adedeji; Special Adviser on Industry, Trade and Investment, John Uwajumogu; Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Wale Adeniyi and others.
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