Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Nigerian government has denied insinuations that it was planning to fix prices of food items sold in the country.
This rebuttal comes a day after the Acting President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Food Security to come up with solutions to challenges contributing to the increase in food prices across the country.
The Federal Government, explaining on Thursday motive behind the development, pointed out that the task force was set up to ensure smooth and steady flow of produce from farms to markets, and bring down the added costs responsible for escalating food prices, ultimately bringing needed relief to Nigerians.
It said the task force is not to fix the prices of food items, but “mandated to explore and recommend means of urgently resolving some of the bottlenecks and challenges contributing to the increase in food prices across the country.
Government said “some of these bottlenecks revolve around transportation and preservation processes.
“Even with credible reports of bumper harvests in parts of the country, transportation and preservation issues have combined to ensure that surpluses are stranded away from where they are needed, and lost to spoilage.
“These scenarios ensure that the price of produce remains high in many parts of the country.”
Meanwhile, the Task Force has seven days to report back to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) with recommendations and a Plan of Action.
Members of the group Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Industry, Trade & Development, Dr Okey Enelamah; Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; Minister for Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Labour & Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; representative from Office of the Chief of Staff to the President; and representative from Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
