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Food now cheaper than before – FG
By Emmanuel Awosika
The Presidency has said that prices of food commodities are cheaper in the country due to agricultural policies implemented by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.
Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, announced this during an interview on Sunrise Daily, a Channels TV programme.
Earlier, news outlets reported the FG’s directive instructing financial houses to stop releasing foreign exchange for fertilizer and food importation.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry had reacted by saying Nigeria was not self-sufficient enough to stop importing food, adding that the policy could exacerbate inflation in the country.
Speaking on the order, Shehu said Buhari regime was dedicated to its self-sufficiency goals, which is why it closed up the borders and stopped the importation of food into the country.
He indicated that the policy was already bearing fruit, saying it had led to a reduction in prices of food commodities.
“As of yesterday (Thursday), in the morning of the meeting, go and check the index in markets. For instance in Kano, millets that had gone up to N24,000 has now gone down to N12,000, N13,000. Rice that had been N25,000 is now N20,000. Corn, maize is now N18,000 for the old stock and N14,000, N15,000 for the new stock.” Shehu said.
“So, to say that there is no change in the prices is to show one is completely detached from what is happening in the country.”
He further clarified not all foods were cheaper but said many food items were becoming cheaper as harvested items came into the market.
“Prices are coming down, they will continue to go down as more and more food items are harvested. It’s a seasonal thing and we are going to see through this as well,” he added.
