We Have Averted Food Crisis Despite COVID-19 -Buhari

– President Bars CBN From Issuing Forex On Fertiliser, Food Importation

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria has yet to experience any food crisis despite the ravaging COVID -19 pandemic.

According to him, Nigeria has so far escaped a food crisis because the Federal Government years back began promoting self-sufficiency in food production.

Buhari spoke in Abuja at the meeting of the National Food Security Council he presided over at the Presidential Villa.

However, he said the government and relevant stakeholders in the food chain must put in more efforts to sustain the current levels of sufficiency and ultimately, surpass it.

“The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated more than any event in recent history how countries must strive harder to protect food systems. It has also exposed the limits of dependency on other countries.
“In the last five years we have recorded notable achievements. Despite the decline in GDP by 6.1 per cent in Q2 of 2020 as a direct result of coronavirus, the agricultural sector continued to grow because of government targeted policies”, Buhari told the session.

At least six state governors attended the meeting, which also had some top federal administration officials and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, in attendance.

The governors at the meeting included Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, who doubles as the Vice-Chairman of the Council; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state; Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state; Simon Lalong of Plateau state; Darius Ishaku of Taraba state; and Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state.

Some of the ministers who participated were those Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed; Trade, Industry and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sani Nanono; Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq; and Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu.

Speaking further, Buhari gave credits to farmers for doubling their efforts to increase food production, taking advantage of the rainy seasons over time.

The President stated, “I am pleased to note that most Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agric-business sector. I want to assure you that this government will continue to support these initiatives and many more to come.’’

He also spoke of innovations that would be introduced to improve farming and yields.

Buhari explained, “To protect agricultural investments and boost confidence to our farmers we have deployed thousands of agro-rangers and integrated rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads.

“We have invested in building our strategic grain reserves in recent years which we recently released significant quantities to cushion the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to vulnerable households and industries.”

The President gave further directives to the CBN ”not to issue a kobo” out of the country’s savings for the importation of food items and fertiliser since Nigeria was producing enough on its own.

He maintained that the country must boost local food production.

He said, ”From only three operating in the country, we have 33 fertiliser blending plants now working. We will not pay a kobo of our foreign reserves to import fertiliser. We will empower local producers.”
 
He insisted that any local businessmen bent on importing food and fertiliser, must source the forex on their own, adding, ”use your money to compete with our farmers…
 
”We have a lot of able-bodied young people willing to work and agriculture is the answer. We have a lot to do to support our farmers.”

Earlier, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, talked about rising food prices, but noted that they were expected to crash as new rains entered the market.

Gambari claimed that a bag of maize was now sold for N12,000, down from the N25,000 it was sold before the harvest season.

The CoS spoke further, “The recent surge of national food prices is gradually evolving to a food crisis with the ability to threaten the nation’s food security.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), my office as the secretariat National Food Security Council, met with the all agricultural commodity association, to ascertain the root causes of the recent spike in food prices and craft mitigating strategies to what could be a potential crisis.

“Although various concerns were raised of the root cause of increase in commodity cost, we have been informed that prices are actually on the decline as new grains have been introduced to the market.

“For example, new maize which was previously sold for N25,000 per bag is now being sold between N12,000 and N17,000 and it’s expected to fall between N7,000 and N8,000 per bad by November 2020, according to the various leaders of agricultural commodity association. The price decline has also been experienced in millet, beans and sorghum. The hike therefore is to be seen as a transient situation.

“With Mr. president being among us, as somebody who knows about farming and agriculture perhaps more than many of us in the room, we believe his presence is very instructive in addressing not just this hike and transient nature and pricing of foodstuff but also to underscore the importance he personally and as Mr. President and his administration attaches to the issue of national food security.

“However, it is important to note that the most prevailing concern of the various leaders of the agricultural commodity association, was their demand that there should be better coordination, synergy and cooperation across the sector, this has been largely accounted for the gross misinformation and nationwide speculation which is being experienced.

“Not disregarding the impact of other value triggers such as the cyclical-off season period phenomenon, the COVID-19 pandemic and infrastructure challenges, the importance of collaboration can still not be overemphasised.

“As I welcome all participants to this crucial gathering, I urge that we all work hand in hand to ensure the protection of our nation’s food basket. Agriculture is a major priority for this administration and the crucial driver for the development of the nation. Therefore, the growth of the sector leaves no room for complacency and there is still a long arduous road to go before achieving those goals.

“However with determination, coordination and hard work, we have the capacity and will therefore demonstrate the wherewithal to our exceed our expectation.”