The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has unveiled measures to tackle the rising cost of food items in the country, News About Nigeria reports.
The Special Advisor to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
He noted that the measures include a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities and the importation of 250,000 MT of wheat and 250,000 MT of maize by the Federal Government, engaging relevant stakeholders to set a guaranteed minimum price (GMP) and mop up surplus assorted food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve, among others.
He also stated that, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the measures will be implemented over the next 180 days.
“1. A 150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for Food Commodities
a. suspension of duties, tariffs and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities (through land and sea borders)
b. These commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.
c. Under this arrangement, imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP).
2. In addition to the importation by the private sector, the federal government will import 250,000 MT of wheat and 250,000 MT of maize. The imported food commodities in their semi-processed state will target supplies to small-scale processors and millers across the country.
3. Engage relevant stakeholders to set a guaranteed minimum price (GMP) and mop up surplus assorted food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve.
4. Continuous ramp-up production for the 2024/2025 farming cycle.
a. sustained support to smallholder farmers in the ongoing wet season farming through existing government initiatives.
b. strengthen and accelerate dry-season Season Farming across the country.
c. embark on aggressive agricultural mechanisation and development to reduce drudgery, drive down the cost of production, and boost productivity.
d. collaborate with Sub-National to identify irrigable lands and increase land under cultivation.
e. work closely with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, to rehabilitate and maintain irrigation facilities under river basin authorities across the federation.
5. The Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday, 9th July 2024 with a view to developing and implementing policies that prioritise livestock development and ensure alignment with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
6. Enhancement of Nutrition Security through: a. the promotion of production of fortified food commodities and
b. offer necessary support to scale up the Home Garden Initiative by the Office of The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement reads in part.
He further noted that the team would, in the next two weeks, convene with the respective agencies to finalise the implementation frameworks, adding that information will be made publicly available to facilitate the participation of all relevant stakeholders across the country.
He maintained that the success of the aforementioned measures is contingent on the cooperation and collaboration of all relevant MDAs and stakeholders.
