Janet Ogundepo
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday assured Nigerians that once stability is fully restored in the North and farmers in regions affected by banditry return to their farms, there will be an increase in food production and a reduction in food prices.
He said this in his 7 am National Broadcast to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary.
Tinubu said, “We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home. It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible. As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms. We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this.”
Insecurity, climate change impact and inflation have been attributed to the rise in food prices.
Several security intelligence reports and findings revealed that about 690 farmers were killed in Benue State between January 2023 and February 2024.
Since the beginning of the year, 165 farmers have been killed across the country, with 130 deaths recorded in Benue State in March.
The insecurity situation and farmer-herder crisis have driven many farmers away from their farms.
Continuing, the president further expressed concern about the high cost of living, particularly the rise in food prices.
Data from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics showed a steady rise in the cost of living, with the cost of food witnessing a 61 per cent rise in June 2024, from 25.25 per cent in June 2023 to 40.66 per cent in May 2024.
Tinubu further said, “The central concern of our people today is the high cost of living, especially food costs. This concern is shared by many around the globe as prices and the cost of living continue to rise worldwide.
“My fellow Nigerians, be assured that we are implementing many measures to reduce the cost of living here at home.”
The president also commended the Governors of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa States and the Southwest Governors on their adoption of agricultural production programme.
“I urge other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanised farming. We are playing our part by supplying fertiliser and making tractors and other farm equipment available. Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipment. The plant has a completion time of six months,” he said.
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