THIS DAY
The Senate yesterday, asked the federal government to immediately address the issue of food insecurity in the country in order to avert an imminent crisis.
The red chamber stressed that this was necessary to avoid the wrath of Nigerians who are currently undergoing excruciating hunger and acute starvation in the country.
The red chamber’s observation came as former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, raised the alarm that food crisis could be imminent, alleging that the country’s food reserves was totally empty.
The Senate resolution was sequel to a motion by the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Sunday Karimi, on the urgent need to address food insecurity and market exploitation of consumables in Nigeria.
Senators in their various contributions lamented the high cost of food in the country and urged the federal government to arrest the situation.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said government has embarked on measures to halt food crisis in the country.
He asked the Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Salihu Mustapha, to brief his colleagues on the issue of fertilizer distribution.
Mustapha, said the federal government decided to distribute to each state governor for onward distribution to farmers in their respective States.
He also said the Senators would distribute two trucks each while members of the House of Representatives would share one truck each to the farmers in their various constituencies.
Speaking further on the issue, Akpabio said, “irrespective of political party, each state governor is going to get at least 60 trucks immediately.
“The reason they are giving two trucks to each Senators and one to each House of Representatives members is because some of the State governors and the lawmakers are not in the same political party.
“They (governors) may get and they may not really look at your constituents. So for some of you, it’s important that you also have something to share to your constituents. Your own will be two trucks.
House of Representatives members will get one.”
Akpabio, while rounding off the debate, urged his colleagues to take advantage of the fertilizer distribution before the major rains ravage the situation.
He added, “So in your various senatorial districts, each Senator would have 1,200 bags which would be given for immediate distribution across the senatorial districts.”
He explained that the process of distribution was delayed because of security reasons, as they needed to be sure that the fertilizers would not enter into wrong hands.
Akpabio said, “For me I’m saying that this is an emergency. The food situation is an emergency. We must help our people.
“Part of it is also to make sure it’s not just providing food today, but that it is being able to plant and to make sure that latest by October, November, we have excess food in the market because Nigerians must feed. Everybody is concerned.
“The primary role of government is to ensure the welfare and security of the citizens. That is the reason we are here.
“On fertilizer distribution, just allow this weekend to pass, if you have not received it, or your contact persons have not received by this weekend, then you bring it up on Tuesday, and we know what to do.
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