President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to further crash prices of food items across the country.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, while presenting a paper at a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists covering the Senate.

Mr Abdullahi said the president’s order would be enforced to reduce the prices of food items by ensuring the safe passage of products through various routes across the country. He noted that the committee’s action was aimed at realising Tinubu’s vision on food sovereignty.

According to Mr Abdullahi, the federal government is fully committed to addressing the high prices of transporting farm produce in the country.

He said, “I can say it on good authority to you that the president has given a matching order with a federal executive council committee already handling it. On how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country.

“We are aware, and I’m sure as media, you are also aware, there are routes through which commodities are taken before they are delivered. If you know the amount of money that is being spent, you can now understand why those commodities have to be expensive at the point of delivery.

“So, we are working very hard,we are doing quite a lot. But I’ve just given you a snippet because I’m here, and I felt we should look at that.”

Mr Abdullahi explained that the vision for food sovereignty was within the ambit of food security and food sufficiency, which encompassed availability of food, accessibility as well as affordability, and the right nutritional content on a sustainable basis.

According to him, other programmes, such as the ‘Farmer Soil Health Scheme and Cooperative Reform,’ were also awaiting implementation.

“We are having what you call the Farmer Soil Health Scheme. And that is ready for launch; we are just waiting for the date. Mr President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members.

“The principle of cooperation is clear, democratic, yet it is also very productive. So, we are reforming this. There is a number of things we are doing there and I will urge you, as a press corps, to consider forming a cooperative,” he said.

(NAN)