Covid-19: FG maps out strategy on emergency response to avoid food shortages
The Federal government has stressed the need to to map out a strategy to facilitate free movement of food and agricultural inputs nationwide to avoid food shortages and ensure 2020 production season is not affected.
This was stated in a communique issued on Monday after a meeting hosted by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono with Ministers of Defence, Interior and Police Affairs.
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Daily Times reports that the emergency response to covid-19 was prompted as a result of the presidential lock down, to restrict movement within and across Lagos, Ogun and FCT, considered as epicentres of the infection in Nigeria.
After much deliberations, the four ministers agreed that joint technical task force will be set up to draw guidelines for ensuring the safe operations of farmers /grains market, livestock and poultry markets, dealers and sellers of agricultural inputs during the covid-19 crisis.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers will also be among members of the Task force.
The Joint Technical Task Team will work with States commissioners of police, commandant of Civil Defence Corps and other senior Military officials in the states to respond rapidly to any reported logiam involving food stuffs or livestock.
They also warned that this opportunity should not be used to transport contraband items including illicit drugs, arms and ammunition.
According to the communique, ”security agencies officials at States and Federal levels should work within the framework of the Federal COVID-19 Emergency Action Response Plans with relevant law enforcement agencies to develop modalities of ensuring easy movement of foodstuff, livestock and farm inputs.
” the relevant security agencies should work in a coordinated way with clear instructions and directives to law enforcement agents at the various checkpoints to facilitate the passage of vehicles conveying foodstuff, perishable farm products, livestock and farm inputs without compromising national security or health measures.
” Law Enforcement Agents should liaise with local governments’ and States’ officials in determining modalities for facilitating the movement of foodstuffs to and from markets during the lockdowns.
The four Ministers will also convene a Periodic Review Meeting to assess the situation and advise the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and resolutions of the meeting will, in turn, be communicated to the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Chairman of Governors’ Forum and Chairman of ALGON for information and further action.
