Reps call FG to introduce emergency preventive measures to stop impending food crisis
Olaseinde Gbenga
The members of the House of Representatives have called on the Federal Government to initiate emergency preventive measures to curb food challenges in the country.
The call was made at plenary on Wednesday, where the lawmakers urged the Presidency, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the National Emergency Management Agency to commence arrangements to mitigate the emerging food challenges in the country.
Also, the House mandated its relevant committees to interface with the appropriate ministries and agencies as well as the international development partners to establish and implement protocols to manage food resources and mitigate the food crisis.
According to the lawmakers, the development was after the unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rimamnde Shawulu and Solomon Bob, titled ‘Urgent Need to Emplace Emergency Programmes and Protocol for the Impending Food Shortages.’ Moving the motion, Shawulu said the world is apprehensive of an impending massive shortage of food and possible famine, pointing out that the food shortage was directly linked to the Ukraine/Russia war.
The war, the lawmaker added, had impacted negatively on the supply of grains and fertilisers, saying Nigeria’s highest import bill is on food, after petroleum products.
According to him, Nigeria’s economic outlook, especially the debt-revenue ratio, may not be able to support the needed massive importation of food.
His words, “The House notes that in the new projection at least 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory will face a major food crisis in the year 2022. These states include Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Cross Rivers, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
“The House is cognisant of the fact that terrorists often lay siege to farms, kidnap farmers, sack villages and force farmers to pay ransom or some fees before accessing their farms.
“Many farming communities have abandoned their farms and are seeking refuge in urban centres and Internally Displaced Persons camps.
“The House is concerned that should no proactive actions be taken now, the impending hunger and food shortages will worsen Nigeria’s security situation,” Shawulu noted.
