NIGERIA: How to force down prices of food, Media Watch Group tells Tinubu

*Wants Essential Commodity Board re-introduced in states

*Says 50-kilogramme bag of rice selling for N50,500 to N70,000 inconceivable

By KEMI KASUMU

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWGN) has identified escalating food prices as a great threat to peace and stability in Nigeria, even as it calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider re-introduction of Essential Commodity Boards in all the states of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Rising from Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the Group, held in Ilorin the Kwara State capital on Tuesday January 9, 2024, the Group said essential  food items distributed on ‘pay and pick’ basis in all Ministries, Departments Agencies and strategic locations across the country  continuously would force down prices of food items all over the country.

The Group identified insecurity facing the Nation as being part of causes of food shortage and inflation – calling for drastic measures to stop kidnapping and abductions in farms which have been creating fears in the minds of farmers in rural areas.

It wondered why a 50-kilogramme bag of Rice could sell for N50,500 to N70,000 across the country depending on which State one is buying it; urging the Federal Government to priotise reduction of  food prices in Nigeria to help the poor masses in the Country.

It also wondered what went wrong with Lagos/Kebbi joint rice initiative which came into being few years ago and wondered what has become of it, stressing that more State Governments could synergise to produce needed grains in large quantities to reduce cost of food items.

In  the  Communique issued at the end of the meeting jointly signed by the National Coordinator of the Group, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, and the Oyo State Coordinator, Alhaji Mas’ud Akintola, and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Tuesday, Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria called for re-establishment of Essential Commodities Boards to tackle the high cost of food items at the State Levels, while FCT Administration should handle that of the Federal Capital Territory – Abuja.

The Group maintained that foods are not as expensive as being sold presently, adding that greedy and unpatriotic traders and transporters are contributing more to the inflationary trends of all goods – calling on Federal and State Governments to tackle that of food items that is highly essential to the generality of the people.

It enjoined both Federal and State Governments to populate the membership of the Commodities’ Boards through out the Country be established with God-fearing and disciplined Security Agents cutting across all Services in-order to make the intervention to work.

It concluded the Communique by appealing to the 36 State Governors to get prepared for the planned increase in minimum wage for workers and increased pensions for retirees so as to reduce economic hardship on the people.