NEWS
FG Denies Stoking Food Price Inflation
The Federal Government has refuted claims that it is partly responsible for the current rising prices of food items in the country.
There had been concerns that the government’s practice of mopping up grains into the national Strategic Grains Reserves (SGRS) during harvests was responsible for the high costs of food products in the market.
Food inflation has remained a major challenge in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation.
Analysts also blamed the situation on demand-supply gaps as what is available can’t satisfy the demands of a growing population.
The composite food index rose to 17.20 per cent in March compared to 22.95 per cent recorded in March 2021.
Month-on-month, the food sub-index increased to 1.99 per cent in March, up by 0.12 per cent from 1.87 per cent in February.
However, speaking against the backdrop of allegations that the federal government’s practice of mopping up grains was contributing to food inflation, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Abubakar, who spoke in an interview said that the government was only buying off the excess grains in the market.
But critics insisted that food production was not enough to talk about buying off excess grains.
The minister said, “No it’s not mopping; the federal government is buying the excess grains that are there to be bought.
“If it is not available, we will not buy and stock- what’s the point of stocking when people need it?”
Abubakar added, “So we are currently releasing and there are grains in the market.”
He however said though political commitment is absolutely fundamental for addressing the food security challenge, it is “not the complete answer.”
He said, “Strengthening food systems and chains is a shared responsibility. Governments, industry, and consumers all have a vital role and must work together to ensure ‘farm to the table’ food security.”
Meanwhile, worried about the rising inflation, particularly the food component, President Muhammad Buhari had recently authorised the release of 40,000 metric tons (MT) of grains from the National Strategic Grains Reserves (SGR) to vulnerable Nigerians to cushion the effects of rising prices of food items.
The government’s move was aimed at cushioning the effect of high prices of commodities across the country during the Ramadan, Easter, and Sallah festivities.
Analysts also believed the global supply shortages caused by the Russian-Ukraine war is exerting significant pressure on food prices, especially wheat as local production remained inadequate in satisfying demand.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has charged Nigerians to seize the occasion of Christmas to pray for peace, unity and progress in the country in the year ahead.
Mr Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, gave the charge in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja while rejoicing with Nigerians, especially Christians at Christmas.
He noted that Christmas, a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, symbolises the fulfillment of age-old divine prophecy and God’s boundless love for mankind.
Morka said that the period exemplified compassion, patience, unity, mercy, and wholesome sacrifice, virtues that Christian faithful should imbibe.
“Christmas teaches of God’s infinite capacity to accomplish the seeming impossible and bring hope and light to even the most difficult situations.
“We urge Nigerians to seize the occasion of Christmas to pray for peace, unity and progress in our land in the year ahead,
while extending love and kindness to neighbours and needy citizens during and beyond this joyous celebration,” he said.
He wished all a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.(NAN)
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has underscored the need for sufficient regular migration pathways to tackle challenges associated with irregular migration in Nigeria.
The IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Ms Paola Pace, noted this in an interview on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to her, the driving force behind irregular migration is tied to insufficiency of regular migration pathways.
Pace said, “This means the pathways that allows individuals to migrate in a safe, orderly and regular manner like family reunification or educational visa schemes are familiar to many.
“However, there are other innovative models like skills mobility partnerships, which are pathways that facilitate upskilling of actual or potential migrants to fill labour gaps, either at home or abroad.
“These not only prevent brain-drain, they offer viable, sustainable opportunities for migrants to move in a regular manner that governments can monitor.”
She explained that for 18 months, the organisation had been prioritising regular pathways, because its social and economic benefits to both governments and migrants are enormous.
She commended the Federal Government, civil society, private sector and migrants themselves, for partnering with it, saying that these partnerships helped in promoting the expansion of existing regular migration pathways and creation of new ones.
“Just this week, I had the honour of speaking to the Nigeria Immigration Service on the occasion of their Anti-Smuggling Week.
“This week-long event focuses on another aspect of irregular migration —smuggling, which, together with human trafficking are two legally distinct crimes that are both harmful forms of coercive migration.
“We will continue our work with the Nigeria Immigration Service to combat smuggling or any human rights violation to migrants, not only at the borders, but throughout the full migration cycle.
“The greater the number of regular migration channels, the greater the likelihood that migrants will choose these, if and when they migrate, reducing their personal risk during the migration process,” she said.
Pace commended Nigeria’s participation in the African review process for implementation of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM).
She said that it was a right step in the right direction toward positioning the country in protecting rights of migrants.
The Global Compact on Migration (GCM) is the first-ever intergovernmentally-negotiated UN agreement on a common approach to international migration.
“This global compact places enormous weight on regular pathways, as a critical avenue to safeguard the human rights of migrants and to reduce irregular migration.
“Nigeria is a Champion Country of the GCM, which means it is a thought and action leader on how best to amplify, streamline and make equitable regular migration pathways.
“In October, IOM hosted a side event to the continental review process in which numerous government officials, private sector and civil society stakeholders participated, to focus on next steps for Nigeria in this context,” she added. (NAN)
Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa has announced the passing of his mother, Maryam Namadi on Wednesday.
This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Hamisu Gumel, on Wednesday in Dutse.
Maryam died in the early hours of Wednesday, Dec. 25, and was buried according to the Islamic rites in Kafinhausa town at about 4:00 p.
m.The funeral prayer was attended by many residents of the state, who condoled with the governor over the death.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Tijjani Abdullahi, sympathised with Namadi over the passing of his mother.
Abdullahi in a statement by the Spokesman of the command, Shiisu Adam, expressed deep condolences to the governor.
Report says that Namadi was on a working visit in China at the time of her death. (NAN)
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