The senate has urgently called on the federal government to take decisive action in response to escalating food prices and widespread food insecurity in the country.
This call came during a Senate session where lawmakers expressed deep concerns over the significant rise in the prices of essential goods and consumables, leading to high inflation rates and severely weakened purchasing power for Nigerians.
Senator Sunday Karimi of Kogi West, alongside co-sponsor Senator Ali Ndume from Borno South, emphasized the urgent need to address the food crisis and market exploitation affecting Nigerians. They highlighted alarming statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics, indicating a staggering 40.66% year-on-year increase in food inflation. This spike, originally spurred by the removal of petroleum subsidies, has now escalated prices of staple foods such as beans, rice, yam, and tomatoes by over 100%.
Senator Ahmed Wadada of Nasarawa West called for the Senate and important stakeholders to move quickly to address the causes of food scarcity.
READ ALSO: https://parallelfactsnews.com/nation-assembly-propose-death-penalty-vandal/
“The issue at hand is very serious. Nigerians are very patient, but no people can endure hunger for so long. While we understand the causes, we must also recommend solutions to the government of the day. As representatives of the people, we are responsible and must respond appropriately.We are all leaders and critical stakeholders in this country. Whatever we need to do, we must always contribute to efforts to reduce factors affecting food production in the country,” he stated.
The head of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Saliu Mustapha, revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture is working to disperse 60 trucks full of fertiliser throughout the nation. But he emphasised that in order to address the root causes of food insecurity, more all-encompassing approaches were required.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio echoed in his closing remarks how the government must ensure Nigerians can farm. “The primary function of government is the welfare and security of its citizens,” he stated.
Follow Parallel Facts on WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
