Tinubu orders safe passage of farm produce to cut food prices

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, minister of state for agriculture and food security, says President Bola Tinubu has directed a federal executive council committee to work on reducing food prices in the country.

Abdullahi disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while presenting a paper at a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists covering the senate.

He said the directive will be implemented through measures that guarantee the safe passage of agricultural products and commodities across major routes nationwide.

“In addressing the high price of transportation of farm produce in the country, I can say it on good authority to you that the president has given a matching order with a federal executive council committee already handling it, on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” he said.

“We are aware, and I’m sure as media, you are also aware, there are routes through which commodities are taken before they are delivered, if you know the amount of money that is being spent, you can now understand why those commodities have to be expensive at the point of delivery.

“So we are working very hard. We are doing quite a lot. But I’ve just given you a snippet because I’m here, and I felt we should look at that.”

The minister said the directive aligns with the administration’s “food sovereignty” vision, which goes beyond security and sufficiency to cover availability, accessibility, affordability and nutritional quality of food on a sustainable basis.

He added that new programmes, including the Farmer Soil Health Scheme and cooperative reform initiatives, are being prepared for rollout.

“We are having what you call the Farmer Soil Health Scheme. And that is ready for launch. We are just waiting for the date,” he said.

“Another important part I would like you to take notice of very seriously is we are promoting, or we are having what you call, we need more cooperative reform and revamped program.

“Mr President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilization, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members.

“And you know the principle of cooperative is clear, is democratic, yet it is also very productive. And so we are reforming this. There’s a number of things we are doing there. And I will urge you, as a press corps, to consider forming a cooperative.”