President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated a Federal Executive Council (FEC) committee to take decisive steps towards reducing the high cost of food items across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while presenting a paper at a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists covering the Senate.
According to Abdullahi, the president’s directive is focused on ensuring the safe and unhindered movement of farm produce across major routes nationwide, thereby cutting down transportation costs that often inflate food prices.
“I can say it on good authority that Mr President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it,” the minister said.
“The goal is to promote safe passage of agricultural commodities across the country’s routes. When you consider the amount of money spent in transporting these goods, it becomes clear why they arrive at markets at such high prices.”
He explained that the intervention is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty, which encompasses food availability, accessibility, affordability, and nutritional adequacy on a sustainable basis.
The minister further revealed that additional programmes such as the Farmer Soil Health Scheme and Cooperative Reform are ready for rollout. He noted that the cooperative reform is particularly designed to mobilise resources, boost economic activities, and improve the livelihood of farmers and cooperative members.
“Mr President has shown tremendous interest in cooperatives as a tool for empowerment and productivity. The principles are democratic, yet very effective, which is why we are reforming the sector,” Abdullahi added, urging journalists to also consider forming cooperatives.
The workshop, themed “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges, and Responsibilities,” also featured the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Senator Ita Enang, and the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, as resource persons.
