Posted on March, 26, 2024 at 10:07 am
A harsh warning against stockpiling and speculative trading has been issued by Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, as the Federal Government steps up efforts to increase food production in the nation.
The Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture and Food Security, Mufutau Yinusa, and the non-governmental organization Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023 hosted a special Ramadan lecture/Iftar in Abuja on Sunday, when the minister issued this warning.
“Gratitude, Patience and Vision: Embracing challenges with optimism” was the theme of the lecture.
The minister, who lamented the rising price of food goods, claimed that hoarding has made the situation worse in addition to the insecurity that has impacted agricultural output.
“Man-made issues also exist; hoarding and the massively speculative trading of commodities by commodity traders are two examples.
“We have observed and found some warehouses in large commodity regions where walls have been built and gates have been removed solely to store food within.
Therefore, I believe we are not being fair to this government’s leadership when we point to those things and say Bola Tinubu is to blame.
He remarked, “So we have to look inward; we all have a role to play.”
In addition to taking direct action to address the issue of insecurity, Kyari stated that the Federal Government would keep working around the clock to guarantee food security for the country.
Aliyu Abdullahi, the minister of state for agriculture and food security, earlier urged Muslims to use the month of Ramadan to offer prayers for their country and its leaders.
He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to collaborating with pertinent parties to address the country’s economic problems.
Source: National Star