"As we journey into the next dispensation, Nigerians want to see the cost of living reducing consistently. Prices of food items need to drop, so that the welfare of the average Nigerian can be guaranteed."
By Mc Paul
The last four years were very challenging for the ordinary Nigerian despite some firsts and peaks recorded by the Buhari administration in terms of the fight against boko haram and general insecurity, growing and diversifying the Nigerian economy, infrastructural development as well as the fight against corruption.
One of the things that Nigerians suffered was increased in the cost of living. Food is a basic requirement for every individual, rich or poor.
Though there was a consistent decrease in inflation in the last two years, a little or no impact was felt by the common man particularly on food items; the price of food stuffs like rice among others was very high and alarming. This has formed a major part of the works of many critics of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
This is not to say that the Buhari administration has done nothing about the food security of our country. For the matter of fact, the efforts of Mr. President are in the agricultural sector are in the right direction. Nigerians only need more commitment on the part of the government and more cooperation on the part of other critical stakeholders like farmers, distributors and State governments.
As we journey into the next dispensation, Nigerians want to see the cost of living reducing consistently. Prices of food items need to drop, so that the welfare of the average Nigerian, the poor majority can be guaranteed.
The population of our country is very high, which means a natural increase in demand of food items. This is a potential room for inflation, so we need to encourage more investment and more involvement in agriculture.
"Patriotism requires that every Nigerian should prioritize the general interest of the country ahead of parochial or individual narrow interest."
It is germane to acknowledge the efforts of Mr. President towards the food security of our country. The agricultural revolution of the federal government, notably the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is a good step in the right direction. Though it has been reported in several quarters that the ABP was hijacked for friends and cronies who are not dedicated farmers in some States by Governors, thereby limiting the impact of the ABP in the agricultural sector. The state governments need to cooperate with the federal government in this regard.
Meanwhile, Nigerians expect more agricultural programs and empowerment schemes for rural farmers, youths and cooperatives. There should be interest-free loans or at most single-digit loans without collateral for farmers across the country. If more of our people get involved in farming, it will increase productivity and availability of food items, which will lead to a fall in the prices of food.
Let me also add that the federal government in collaboration with the national assembly need to put systems in place to checkmate pricing and also control the exportation of food items produced in Nigeria.
It is a public knowledge that farmers are more interested in exporting farm produces to make more gains to the detriment of food security of our country. The Buhari administration is trying to encourage farmers and grow agriculture to make Nigeria a self sufficient country. This is why importation of food and luxurious items into the country is being discouraged by the government, to create room for agricultural productivity and the prosperity of farmers. Beneficiaries of this critical decision, therefore, should not be seen sabotaging the efforts of the Buhari administration.
"If the food security of Nigerians are assured and guaranteed in the President Muhammadu Buhari Next Level government, Nigerians will be grateful and patient as the government fix critical infrastructure and grow the economy."
Patriotism requires that every Nigerian should prioritize the general interest of the country ahead of parochial or individual narrow interest.
As farmers and as a country, our primary concern should be geared towards producing enough for our people before thinking of exportation. Government and other corporate bodies can buy finished products from farmers and distribute same to the citizens. The collaboration of the Lagos and Kebbi State governments in terms of rice production is a good case study.
More so, retailers are usually not fair on fellow citizens with price fixing. Making too much profits from food items and other commodities should be seen as one form of criminality that should be addressed. Perhaps, we need to start selling in grams and kilo grams across the country. This will lead to the uniformity of prices and solve the problem of unnecessary price fixing in Nigeria.
If the food security of Nigerians are assured and guaranteed in the President Muhammadu Buhari Next Level government, Nigerians will be grateful and patient as the government fix critical infrastructure and grow the economy.
0 Comments