The National Economic Council (NEC) has taken bold steps to ensure food security and put an end to the economic challenges confronting the nation, including making fertiliser available to farmers and establishing Agro-Rangers to tackle insecurity on farms.
According to a communique by Stanley Nkwocha, a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, this decision was taken on Thursday during the 139th meeting of the Council held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
This comes just as the Vice President has said that with collective efforts in developing a clear and actionable roadmap through short-term, medium, and long-term strategies, Nigeria will overcome its economic challenges in the country.
Following a presentation by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, on food security in the country, Vice President Shettima directed a meeting of the federal government with major fertilizer producers in the country, including Indorama, Dangote and Notore.
NEC noted that fertiliser is a major ingredient of agricultural productivity which the government is striving to attain and urged the state governors to embrace modern agricultural practices to increase productivity.
Council also considered the establishment of Agro-Rangers in the short-term and the possible 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, Senator 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.
The Minister of Agriculture called for action against dollarization of locally produced commodities like urea, which is impacting negatively on fertilizer prices and agricultural productivity.
Meanwhile, Vice President Shettima has called for sound economic decisions that will reverberate with the expectations of Nigerians.
He expressed hope that with collective efforts in developing a clear and actionable roadmap through short-term, medium, and long-term strategies, Nigeria will overcome its current economic challenges.
