The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the nation won’t experience food shortage in 2023.
This is in response to projections had been made that Africa might experience food shortage given the stoppage of grains importations occasioned by Russia- Ukraine war.
Giving this assurance was the Minister of Agriculture, Mohammad Abubakar, on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House.
The minister said that the government is working to deplete inflation rate and ensure food security primarily through subsidising fertilizer, improving production and prevent smuggling among other strategies.
The flooding situation in the country has continued to spike concerns of food scarcity in 2023 with houses and farmlands submerged in Lagos, Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Ebonyi, Anambra, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Imo, Abia States, and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), over 600 people have died and millions displaced by devastating floods that hit more than 20 states in the last few months.
Mohammed, it will be recalled, during the budget defense had also assured that his ministry won’t let the scarcity happen.
“The main concern about food scarcity, in the coming months, we’ll not allow that to happen, I can guarantee you by the Grace of God, because we have measures in place.
“One of the measures is dry season farming, which we have in place and the money, we are working with the Ministry of Finance, we’ve gotten money from financing agencies, one of them is AFDB, and we will intensify dry season farming.” he said.