President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a committee within the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to take decisive steps that will further crash food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while presenting a paper at a one-day capacity-building workshop organised by the Senate Press Corps.
He explained that the move would be achieved by ensuring the safe passage of agricultural produce and commodities across major routes nationwide, thereby cutting high transportation costs that often drive up prices.
“In addressing the high cost of transportation of farm produce in the country, the President has given a matching order to a Federal Executive Council committee handling it, on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural goods and commodities across our various routes,” Abdullahi said.
He noted that exorbitant transport costs along commodity routes often translate into higher consumer prices, but assured that the government is working hard to tackle the problem.
The Minister also highlighted the President’s broader vision of achieving food sovereignty through food security, sufficiency, accessibility, affordability, and nutritional balance on a sustainable basis.
According to him, programmes such as the Farmer Soil Health Scheme—ready for launch—and a cooperative reform and revamp programme are part of measures to boost productivity and livelihoods.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, economic activity generation, and livelihood improvement. We are reforming this to make it more productive,” Abdullahi added.
