Professor Yemi Osinbajo has, in his capacity as acting President, constituted a presidential task force to urgently consider measures that would ensure a steady flow of food produce to the market and reverse recent price increases.
Giving the directive on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Osinbajo expressed concern at some of the inflationary rates of food prices, noting that the taskforce will explore options to promote availability and affordability of food items to Nigerians.
According to him, the taskforce, which has seven days to report back to FEC, will consider how to remove some of the cost-raising factors that come into play between the farms and the markets and therefore “bring relief to our people.”
While there have been reports of bumper harvests in parts of the country, the prices of food stuff still end up rather high, while some of the produce even end up wasted due to a number of reasons preventing effective transportation delivery to the markets.
One of the focus areas of the taskforce, Osinbajo noted, would be to review the transportation and preservation processes, and see how government can intervene in those aspects to bring down food prices.
The taskforce, which would be meeting with the acting President in the discharge of its urgent assignment, will therefore draw out a practical plan and present same to the Council next week.
Members include Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Development, Okey Enelamah.
Others are Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister for Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, and Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
The Offices of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would also be on the taskforce.
