Federal govt, governors blame #EndSARS protests for hike in food prices

The Federal Government and state governors on Thursday, November 19, resolved to put measures in place to address the hike in food prices being witnessed across the country.

The resolution was made at a virtual meeting of the National Economic Council presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

The council, which is chaired by the Vice President, has all state governors and relevant ministers as members.

According to Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, the resolution was made after a presentation by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, Dr Andrew Kwasari.

Akande said from the presentation, the council noted that food prices have changed between September and November involving commodities in Lagos and a few randomly selected states.

He said the council also identified “causes of the hike in food prices to include delay in going out to farm, which translates to delay in harvesting courtesy of COVID19 pandemic; EndSARS protest stalled food transportation and delivery and in some instances destroyed food stores; banditry in the North West effectively preventing farmers from harvesting fields cultivated; farmers/herders conflict destroyed farm produce in some states, and increased cost of transportation”.

On resolution, Akande said, “States and FG were urged to adopt urgent measures including social protection schemes to deal with the situation.

“The FG will also pursue the implementation of its ESP -Agric plan and others to positively improve the situation in the sector.”

Akande said the council also received presentation from the Federal Road Safety Commission on the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030.