Improved security contributes to decline in food prices – Sunday Dare
By Matthew Denis
Sunday Dare, the former Minister of Youth and Sports and current Special Adviser to President Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Communication, has attributed the recent decline in food prices to enhanced security measures across the country.
Speaking during a TVC News programme on Friday, Dare stated that the improved security landscape has allowed farmers greater access to their farmlands, thereby increasing food production and stabilising market prices.
He highlighted that President Tinubu’s administration has actively engaged over 700,000 farmers in rice and wheat cultivation, not only boosting food supply but also creating employment opportunities.
Dare emphasised that the government’s strategic approach in tackling security threats has significantly reduced incidents of farmers being forced to abandon their land due to banditry. He recalled that, in the past, many farmers had to pay criminals to gain access to their own fields, a situation that contributed to rising food costs.
He remarked: “Our farmers were previously driven away by criminal gangs, particularly in the North, where they had to pay bandits just to spend a few hours on their farms. We have data confirming this, but today, farmers are able to work more freely. This has led to an increase in agricultural output and the elimination of middlemen and other bottlenecks in the food supply chain.”
Dare expressed confidence that this positive trend would continue, citing the administration’s ongoing interventions to strengthen food security.
“We have seen the impact of these efforts, with over 300,000 farmers engaged in dry-season rice farming and another 400,000 participating in wheat cultivation under this administration,” he noted.
Dare also pointed to specific regions where security improvements have had a transformative effect. He cited the Birnin Gwari area, which was once regarded as a highly dangerous zone due to rampant insecurity.
“During the election campaign, President Tinubu travelled to Birnin Gwari at night, a place that was once almost inaccessible. At that time, around 90 per cent of farmers there were unable to go to their farms. Today, we are witnessing a remarkable turnaround, with many farmers in Birnin Gwari now thriving, some even becoming millionaires,” he stated.
He added that similar success stories have been recorded in Osun and Oyo states, where improved security has revitalised the agricultural sector.
Dare concluded by acknowledging the gratitude expressed by farmers, who now have renewed access to their livelihoods without fear of intimidation or extortion. “Farmers appreciate this administration for providing relief from the hardships they previously endured. The government’s efforts have brought much-needed stability and security to rural communities,” he said.
