Moved
by the need to enhance affordability of food prices across country, the Buhari
administration has constituted a Presidential Task Force to urgently consider
measures that would ensure a steady flow of produce to the market and reverse
recent price increases.
Giving
the directive today at the Federal Executive Council meeting, Acting President
Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, expressed concern at some of the inflationary rates of food
prices, noting that the Task Force will explore options to promote availability
and affordability of food items to Nigerians.
According
to him, the Task Force, which has seven days from today to report back to the
Council will consider how to remove some of the cost-raising factors that come
into play between the farms and the markets and therefore "bring relief to
our people."
While
there have been reports of bumper harvests in parts of the country, the prices
of food stuff still end up rather high, while some of the produce even end up
wasted due to a number of reasons preventing effective transportation delivery
to the markets.
One
of the focus areas of the Task Force, the Ag. President noted, would be to
review the transportation and preservation processes, and see how government
can intervene in those aspects to bring down food prices.
The
Task Force, which would be meeting with the Ag. President in the discharge of
its urgent assignment, will therefore draw out a practical plan and present
same to the Council next week.
Members
of the Task Force include the following:
Minister
of Agriculture & Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh
Minister
of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun
Minister
of Industry, Trade & Development, Dr. Okey Enelamah
Minister
of Transportation, Honorable Rotimi Amaechi
Minister
for Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu
Minister
of Labour & Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige
The
Offices of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Senior Special Assistant
to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, would also be on the
Task Force.
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