Mandate of Task Force On Food Security In Nigeria After First Meeting

Aso Rock Villa, Abuja: Contrary to circulating reports, the work of the Task Force is NOT to fix the prices of food items.

Instead, the Task Force has been mandated to explore and recommend means of urgently resolving some of the bottlenecks and challenges contributing to the increase in food prices across the country.

Some of these bottlenecks revolve around transportation and preservation processes. Even with credible reports of bumper harvests in parts of the country, transportation and preservation issues have combined to ensure that surpluses are stranded away from where they are needed, and lost to spoilage. These scenarios ensure that the price of produce remains high in many parts of the country.

The Task Force has seven days to report back to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) with recommendations and a Plan of Action.

The overall goal of this intervention is to ensure smooth and steady flow of produce from farms to markets, and bring down the added costs responsible for escalating food prices, ultimately bringing needed relief to Nigerians.

The Members of the Task Force are:
a. Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh
b. Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun
c. Minister of Industry, Trade & Development, Dr. Okey Enelamah
d. Minister of Transportation, Honorable Rotimi Amaechi
e. Minister for Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu
f. Minister of Labour & Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige
g. Representative from Office of the Chief of Staff to the President
h. Representative from Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Recall that on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting the Ag. President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had raised a task force team on Food Security in Nigeria.