Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, made it clear on Wednesday that the 42,000 metric tons of grains that were just approved for distribution to Nigerians in need would be given out without charge.
According to the minister, the required equipment and safeguards had been installed to make sure that the food palliatives were only available to communities and individuals in need.
As a temporary solution to the nation’s growing food scarcity, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate release of 42,000 metric tons of various foods from the strategic reserve and the Nigerian Rice Millers Association.
At the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation’s inaugural Ministerial Press Briefing Series (MPBS), Kyari discussed the ministry’s initiatives to lower food costs and ensure food security.
In response to allegations of touts harassing drivers, the minister also said that the government will soon issue a national policy statement outlawing double taxes on the transportation of food throughout the nation.
The government is fighting to curb the recent spike in food costs, which was apparently influenced by the development.According to Kyari, the government believes both supply and demand in the market are to blame for the present food inflation.
He also stated that the main issue facing Nigerians continues to be affordability rather than availability.
He said, “Food is now viewed as a trading commodity, not as a necessity for food security of the nation. And I think because of this situation and the challenge that we face, we have to come out I make absolute statement that no double taxation should be applied to food in transit.”