President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has strongly reaffirmed his administration’s position against importing food commodities into Nigeria even as food prices continue to escalate unabatedly thereby worsening food crises and inflation rates. President Tinubu revealed this in a statement at a meeting with the Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House in Abuja on Friday. Nigeria’s food inflation rate according to the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, has soared to a concerning 37.92% as of February 2024, prompting speculation that importing food could swiftly alleviate nationwide food price pressures.
The President however, underscored that resorting to food imports will not address the prevailing food crisis, warning that it merely fosters corruption and rent-seeking activities.
He noted that his administration is determined to invest in the agricultural sector as well as promote mechanized farming in the country.
“We are bringing mechanized farming to the fore. Yesterday’s crisis will become today’s opportunity. Fertilizers are being supplied to farmers as we speak.
“Agriculture and economic diversification provide the answers to our problems. We will not continue to import food. We know how to turn lack into abundance, and the world will watch us do it again,” he said.
The President mentioned that his government has prepared a comprehensive strategy for large-scale livestock farming, scheduled to be implemented soon.
