Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to lift the ban on food importation in Nigeria to address the ongoing food crisis in the country. In a statement released on Tuesday in Osogbo, Oba Akanbi suggested that opening the borders and allowing food items to enter the country would help alleviate the situation. He also proposed the importation of grains and building materials to foster competition in the market and curb inflation.
The monarch emphasized the urgency of opening the borders for at least the next six months to counteract alleged sabotage by local producers that is hindering the economy. Oluwo suggested excluding the border with Niger Republic from the reopening while advocating for the importation of all food items except GMO products. He highlighted the need to control the prices of essential goods by halting the export of locally produced items and facilitating importation for a specified period.
In the statement signed by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, Oluwo accused local producers of being major saboteurs of the economy and emphasized the importance of encouraging competition to address the high cost of food items. He proposed allowing the importation of grains and building materials to create a competitive market environment. The monarch urged swift action by the government to address the soaring prices of goods.
Expressing concern over the nation’s growing food crisis and rising commodity costs, Oluwo’s plea to Tinubu comes as a response to the government’s efforts to mitigate the situation. Tinubu had previously ordered the release of over 102,000 metric tons of various grains from the National Food Reserve and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria. These measures were aimed at providing immediate relief to Nigerians grappling with food shortages and high prices.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed the directives after a series of meetings of the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention. The government’s actions reflect a concerted effort to address the pressing challenges faced by Nigerians in accessing affordable food items amidst the ongoing crisis.