In the face of double digits inflation on goods and services, food insecurity, couple with the uncertainty severing the tranquility and Nigeria integration, proactive measures is expected to be taken by the state to ensure we continue in oneness. The heat economic hardship bearing directly on Nigerians stem from the consequences of government failed policies to address the need of the people. Siphons, mismanagement and maladministration characterize our polity. This seek urgent attention and intervention of every concerned persons; individual, organizations and government.
According to president Tinubu, “To further ensure that price of food items remain affordable, we have had a multi-stakeholder engagement with various farmer’s associations and operators within the agricultural value chain. In short and immediate terms, we will ensure staple foods are available and affordable. To this end, I have ordered the release of 200,000 metric tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT to moderate prices. We are also providing 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers who are committed to our food security agenda.” Tinubu made this know in his national broadcast on the 31st July.
Now, the question of viability and feasibility of these plans usually beclouded our minds whenever such pronouncement is made. However, the breakdown of Mr President has given us insights to how we can benefit from those projects. Unfortunately for Nigerians, ‘The pest which destroys her vegetable lives on it’ we are responsible for most predicament befalling us. When these palliativea are been rolled out some selected few will still funnelled it to their miserable purse because of Nigeria’s attitude problem and proper monitoring of government projects.
Although, Nigeria farmers who this is targeted at will smile, the need for them to register with farmers association, join and have domiciliary and business account with microfinance banks, development institutions or commercial banks is Paramount. These are the channels through which the disbursement will take place. Having a good business plan on agro-economic basis is also essential. Because the high sense of food security we will experience once these plans are implemented as broadcast by the president, our dependency on wheat, rice and staple food exportation will reduce drastically. This will to some extent affect dollar, because these products will be locally produced and exchange rate will not be needed to achieve local production.
The hike in products made from wheat happen as a result of the exorbitant rate we import wheat and other staple food. Since Ukraine and Russia war broke out in May 2022, there has been low productivity on goods like wheat which form major export of Ukraine. Our dependency on them for this product has scrumble some small scale enterprise whose business had help to reduce unemployment before. Also, maize as an industrial products met to further production of some consumer goods will influence the economy of household consumption and organizations using it for their product production. While this will help improve the overall production index of the state per annum, which by its quota will aid our gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
Let’s keep hope alive. The economy impact of this policy or program is that, it will help boost and increase productivity. Economy behavior of Nigeria at individual level in term of consumption, demand and supply will change. So also, the overall behavior of the market economy will change because, this policy will help create jobs for unemployed population. Farmers, labourers, technicians and engineers market women get their ends meet with this intervention. The output of these will assuredly turn thing up for good, and food security, a reknow hope promised will be attain. This will reposition Nigeria amidst comity of Nation at the international frontier. And to our compatriots who see Nigeria as poverty headquarter and to others who see it as cemetery, when hunger is out of their poverty, penury will be reduced.
Reasonable number of those who engaged in vices won’t do that any longer because their work would have them constantly busy. With our labour force of over 200m people which about 70% is within the range of working will be employed. When surplus food is produce then importation of the reminant will be much to the internally generatd revenue . Food security will do well in reducing crime and criminality.
– Miracle John
Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State.
