The Federal Government has said it is taking some action to ensure that Nigerians have some relief in terms of the availability of food on their table.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris disclosed this after the meeting of the Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention, presided over by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajiabiamila, at the State House, Abuja.
According to the Minister, Government is very concerned about the current harsh realities Nigerians are going through, hence the reason for government’s resolve to ensure that Nigerians have some relief in terms of the availability of food.
“We just rounded up a meeting. It is a special presidential committee to address the issue of food shortage or lack of enough food on the table of most Nigerians.
“This is just the beginning of that meeting. It is going to continue tomorrow and day after tomorrow.
“The government is very concerned about what Nigerians are going through, especially what has happened in Minna yesterday, and therefore government is taking some action to ensure that Nigerians have some relief in terms of the availability of food on the table,” the Minister said.
Highlighting some of the steps to be taken to alleviate the harsh impact of the present economic situation, including unlocking the foods that are available in National Food Reserves around the country, Idris said discussions are ongoing, and very soon a solution is in sight for Nigerians.
“The government is also talking to major millers and major commodity traders, to also see what is available in their stores. To open it up, so that government will provide some intervention, discuss with them provide some intervention to make this food available to Nigerians.
“What the government is noticing is that actually there is still food in this country. Some people are taking advantage of the situation especially because of the high cost, the depreciation in the value of our currency that has led to the cost of these food items also going up.
“What I will tell Nigerians is that the President has directed that government needs to step in to stem this tide.
Government will not fold its arms and see the way Nigerians are suffering in terms of the availability of these food items.
‘So I want to plead with you to understand with the government. By the time these meetings are concluded, we’ll be able to issue a definite statement on what the position of government is in this regard. But all I can say is that discussions are ongoing, and very soon a solution is in sight for Nigerians,” he said.
Present at the meeting were the Governor of Central Bank, Olayemi Cardoso, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu
