Federal Authorities to Regulate Costs of Imported Foodstuff
By The Federal Government announced that imported food items over the next 150 days will be subjected to recommended retail prices to curb the high cost of food in Nigeria. This decision follows the suspension of import duties and taxes on essential items like rice and wheat.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari revealed these measures on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, promising that food prices will drop within 180 days. The government will also import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and maize, supply small-scale processors, and engage stakeholders to ensure food quality and safety.
Senator Ali Ndume criticized the inaccessibility of President Bola Tinubu, which hinders lawmakers’ ability to provide counsel on the food crisis. Ndume warned that ongoing food scarcity could lead to widespread malnutrition, particularly affecting children in the North-West. He lamented the absence of emergency food reserves that were present in the previous administration and urged immediate action to address hunger.
Minister Kyari outlined additional steps, including supporting smallholder farmers, enhancing dry season farming, and coordinating with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and the Economic Management Team (EMT) to finalize implementation frameworks for making food affordable.
Ndume emphasized that the food crisis is critical and suggested that the closed-door policy of the current administration prevents effective communication and resolution of such urgent issues.
