FG Sets Up Task Force To Check Rising Cost Of Food

The federal government also yesterday set up a task force on food security to address the worrying incidence of rising cost of food items in the market.

The minister of information, Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this after the FEC meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja, expressed concern that agricultural products do not get to the market, and when they do, they are sold at very exorbitant prices.

He said the committee is expected to report back to Council next week after which concrete actions would be taken to remedy the situation, adding that government is concerned about the rising price of food and is trying to do something to bring it down.

Mohammed said: “We considered several memos, and approvals were given and the major highlight is Council resolved to set up a task force on food security.

“Government is quite concerned about the rising cost of food items and the fact that, more often than not, even when these products are available, if they do reach the market, there are sold at very exorbitant prices.

“So, the government has set up task force on food security to ensure that an end is put to the wastages that occur, with tonnes and tonnes of produce in the farms rotting away or in the markets getting rotten. It’s an inter-ministerial committee made up of the ministers of agriculture, finance, water resources, transportation.

“The important thing is to look at what areas of intervention the government can make. The intervention can be in the area of subsidy in transportation; that is being worked out, but this goes to show that government is very much concerned about the rising cost of food price and we are responding to it.”

Members of the task force include the following ministers: Chief Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture and Rural Development), Mrs Kemi Adeosun (Finance), Dr. Okey Enelamah (Industry, Trade and Development), Mr Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation), Engr Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources), and Dr Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment)

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 part of the task force.

During the briefing, the minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika, noted that two memoranda were approved in the Ministry of Transport, which include the procurement of two first class coaches – two for baggage and six for long distance economy class coaches,  and for improvement of the Kaduna airport.