Akwa Ibom State has moved to reduce food prices by establishing an agency that will buy food items in bulk and then sell them at cheaper prices to the residents.
This was revealed in a report by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF. The report explained measures to address the food crisis, economic hardship, and hunger in the country.
The report was signed by the Acting Head of Media, NGF, Halimah Ahmed. It noted that governors were committed to ending the pain and suffering of citizens.
The report read: “In Akwa Ibom State, the government is planning to establish an agency. It will buy food items in bulk and then sell at cheaper prices to the residents.
“Towards this end, the Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno, has forwarded to the House of Assembly a bill for the establishment of the agency.”
According to the governor’s spokesman, Ekerete Udoh, Governor Eno appealed to residents to be patient. He promised to sign the bill into law when passed by the assembly.
“We will buy the food items in bulk and ensure that they are made available to our people at relatively lower prices.
“The process will be transparent. I want to thank the House of Assembly for the expeditious manner this bill is being treated,” he said.
In Yobe, Niger
Furthermore, Yobe and Niger states banned bulk purchases of grain from local markets. This was to stop hoarding and exports across Nigeria’s borders.
They said it will “stem the tide of food scarcity and high cost of grains”.
“In Yobe State, the government banned bulk purchases of grain from local markets to stop hoarding and exports across Nigeria’s borders. They said it was to ‘stem the tide of food scarcity and high cost of grains’.
“In Niger State, Governor Mohammed Bago announced a ban on the mass purchase of foodstuffs from local markets.
“He ordered security forces to confiscate trucks carrying products in bulk and ‘share the food to the people‘.
“In Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah said his administration will eradicate hunger and poverty in the state. He promised to unlock the rural economy through investment in agriculture and agro-industrialisation.”
Meeting with Tinubu
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had met with the state governors at the Council Chambers of Aso Rock Villa, Abuja in February.
The issues of a hike in food prices, economic hardship, and others were discussed, with a view to proferring solutions.
Again, another meeting on the food prices seemed to be in the offing, according to the NGF report released in Abuja yesterday.
It noted: “Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), who is the chairman of the Forum, in collaboration with the Governors Agbu Kefas (Taraba); Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo); and Ahmed Ododo (Kogi) with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to interface with the Federal Government and push for increased crop production to tackle food inflation and food shortages in Nigeria.”