Hardship

Abuja, Feb. 23, 2024: The National Economic Council (NEC) has taken bold steps to ensure food security and put an end to the economic challenges confronting the nation.

The council also pledged to make fertiliser available to farmers and to establish Agro-Rangers to tackle insecurity in farms.

The decision was taken on Thursday during the 139th meeting of the Council held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

NEC noted that fertiliser was a major ingredient of agricultural productivity which the government is striving to attain.

The council, therefore, urged the state governors to embrace modern agricultural practices to increase productivity.

It also considered the establishment of Agro-Rangers in the short-term and the creation of state police in the long-term to address security threats on farmers.

This was after a presentation by the Minister of Police Affairs, Sen. Ibrahim Geidam.

The government is also planning to release 42,000 metric tonnes of food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve to address rising prices.

In his presentation on food security, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Kyari Abubakar, called for action against dollarisation of locally produced commodities like urea.

According to him, urea is impacting negatively on fertilizer prices and agricultural productivity.

Commenting on the presentation, Shettima, directed a meeting of the Federal Government with major fertilizer producers, including Indorama, Dangote and Notore.

He said with collective efforts in developing a clear and actionable roadmap through short-term, medium, and long-term strategies, Nigeria would overcome its economic challenges.

Shettima called for sound economic decisions that would reverberate with the expectations of Nigerians.

He regretted that Nigeria had been a victim of strong averseness to evolving and keeping up with the changing global economic order.

This, according to him, leads to a situation where making difficult decisions to maximise its potential has become inevitable.

” We must either redirect the economy towards a place of boom and competitiveness or brace for an impact we are unlikely to survive.

” So, beyond the heritage of our financial and monetary fiascos, we must compare notes to understand the interconnectedness of the dysfunctions in each sector of the economy.”

Shettima told council members that it was President Bola Tinubu’s desire that they all stand together to collectively proffer solutions to safeguard the nation’s economy from imminent implosion.

He observed that while the wealth of every nation is in the belly of its citizens, the government has a long distance to cover in its interventions to enhance food availability and affordability.

” The call to secure and liberate areas under threat from violence, most of which are arable lands owned by our farming communities, is not just a matter of security but a strategic move to revive the economic lifeblood of our nation.”

Shettima noted that the citizens are only keen about tangible results.

” While economic experts foresaw this transitional phase on our journey to a flourishing future, it is crucial to recognize that the ordinary citizen on the street is not concerned with any economic theory.

” Their daily concerns are anchored in the tangible. They are more interested in the price of maize than the predictions of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

”So, as we deliberate on intricate economic strategies today, let us remain attuned to the heartbeat of the nation.

” We must ensure that our decisions resonate with the aspirations of the common man and woman who entrust us with their hopes and dreams.”

The Vice President, who acknowledged that the country was in the midst of a pervasive emergency, urged state governors, ministers and other NEC members to align with the realities on ground.