By Baron Ike
Poised to enhance affordability of food, and reduce prices nationwide, the Muhammadu Buhari administration has set up a Presidential Task Force to quickly consider measures that would ensure a steady flow of produce to the markets and reverse recent price hike.
Six ministers are going to serve on the committee. They include: Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development (Audu Ogbeh), Minister of Finance (Kemi Adeosun), Minister of Industry, Trade & Development ( Okechukwu Enelamah), Minister of Transportation (Rotimi Amaechi), Minister for Water Resources (Suleiman Adamu), and Minister of Labour & Employment(Chris Ngige)
Issues around rising food prices dominated discussion at the Wednesday, February 1 Federal Executive Council meeting, where Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, expressed concern at some of the inflationary rates of food prices, saying that the Task Force will explore options to promote availability and affordability of food items to Nigerians.
Food prices skyrocket everyday across Nigeria making it difficult for the poor to cope with the already difficult economic situation caused by the recession.
Osinbajo said the Task Force has seven days from Wednesday to report back to the Council and 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.”
One of the focus areas of the Task Force, the Osinbajo 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 Offices of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are also on the Task Force.