Federal Executive Council sets task force on food prices

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday constituted a Presidential Task Force to urgently consider measures that would ensure a steady flow of produce to the market and reverse recent price increases.

The Task Force, which has seven days from Wednesday to report back to the Council will consider how to remove some of the cost-raising factors that come into play between the farms and the markets and therefore “bring relief to our people.”

The taskforce was set by FEC  during its meeting at State House Abuja, which was presided over by   Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Osinbanjo expressed concern at some of the inflationary rates of food prices, noting that the Task Force will explore options to promote availability and affordability of food items to Nigerians.

According to Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, the administration is worried that while there have been reports of bumper harvests in parts of the country, the prices of food stuff still end up rather high.

It is even more surprising, they observed, that some of the produce even end up wasted due to a number of reasons preventing effective transportation delivery to the markets.

One of the focus areas of the Task Force, the Ag. President noted, would be to review the transportation and preservation processes, and see how government can intervene in those aspects to bring down food prices.

The Task Force, which would be meeting with the Ag. President in the discharge of its urgent assignment, will therefore draw out a practical plan and present same to the Council next week.

Akande said in a statement that members of the Task Force include Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh,Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun

Minister of Industry, Trade & Development, Dr. Okey Enelamah and Minister of Transportation, Honorable Rotimi Amaechi.

Others are Minister for Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu and Minister of Labour & Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige

The Offices of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, would also be on the Task Force.