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By Lizzy Chirkpi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a committee of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to take decisive steps toward reducing food prices in the country, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi has said.
Abdullahi disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists covering the Senate. He explained that the intervention would focus on ensuring the safe passage of agricultural produce and commodities across major routes nationwide.
“In addressing the high price of transportation of farm produce in the country, I can say it on good authority to you that the President has given a marching order, with a federal executive council committee already handling it, on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said.
The Minister stressed that high logistics costs were a key driver of rising food prices.
“We are aware, and I’m sure as media, you are also aware, 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,” he added.
Abdullahi further noted that Tinubu’s directive aligns with his broader vision of achieving food sovereignty, which encompasses food security, sufficiency, accessibility, affordability, and nutrition.
On government initiatives to strengthen the agricultural sector, the Minister revealed that the Farmer Soil Health Scheme was ready for launch, while plans were underway for cooperative reform to support resource mobilization and boost farmers’ livelihoods.
“We are having what you 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 notice of very seriously is we are promoting, or we are having what you call, we need more cooperative reform and revamped programs,” he said.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilization, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members. And you know the principle of cooperative is clear, is democratic, yet it is also very productive. And so 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,” Abdullahi added.
Other speakers at the workshop, themed “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities”, included the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; former lawmaker Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman.