Following the unabated escalation in food commodity price in Nigeria, the Federal Government has concluded plan to establish a National Commodity Board to look into the matter of food inflation in the country. Vice President Kashim Shettima made this known today during the meeting of a two-day, high-level strategic meeting on climate change, food systems and resource mobilization held in Abuja.
Shettima disclosed that the board when inaugurated would be vested with powers of assessing and regulating food prices at community markets, as well as maintaining a strategic food reserve for stabilizing prices of crucial grains and other food items.
He explained that the event was a testimony that the government is making lots of efforts at mitigating the effects of climate change and ensuring food security for Nigerians.
Shettima revealed that part of President Bola Tinubu renewed Hope Agenda is food security which there government is ensuring that hunger does not pervades the land.
The vice president noted that it was the more reason why president Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security.
He further explained that part of the ongoing policy reforms by the administration to ensure food and water availability and affordability to the general public.
His statement partly reads; “Our solution to the potential food crisis has become immediate, medium, and long-term strategies.
“The short-term strategy entails revitalizing food supply through specific interventions like the distribution of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.
“It also entails fostering collaboration between the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources for efficient farmland irrigation, ensuring year-round food production; and addressing price volatility by establishing a National Commodity Board.
“This board will continually assess and regulate food prices, maintaining a strategic food reserve for stabilizing prices of crucial grains and other food items.”
Meanwhile, he assured that the Tinubu administration was fully investing in the restoration of degraded land.