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Dr. Marindoti Charles Oludare, the national convener of the Social Rehabilitation Group, has urgently appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to open the borders and permit the entry of food items into the country to address the prevailing food crisis and economic hardship.
The group, emphasizing that this action is crucial for meeting the immediate needs of the people, stated that there is no justification for hunger based on economic, ethnic, religious, forex, political, or agricultural grounds.
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In a statement issued by the national president of the group, the current economic hardship in the country was attributed to the ongoing border closure.
Oludare highlighted that the average dietary consumption for an average Nigerian is grossly inadequate, affecting children’s access to nutritious food, and the power situation hampers food preservation, contributing to increased costs and wastage.
He urged, “We must let the food come into the country, subsidize our farmers, and cover their losses should they record any losses.”
Emphasizing the importance of prioritizing food security over productivity, Oludare argued that both allowing food importation and supporting local farmers can coexist.
He contested the notion that food importation enables fraud, suggesting that food protectionism inflates prices without adding value or volume.
To counter hoarding and price gouging, Oludare advocated for open market competition, incentivizing fair practices. He proposed multiple ways of subsidizing farmers, including transport costs, diesel, fertilizers, seedlings, and other supplies, alongside investments in improved infrastructure for faster and cheaper food transportation.
Oludare concluded by citing examples of countries like the United States, which is both the largest producer and importer of various commodities, suggesting that Nigeria can simultaneously allow food importation while working towards enhancing food productivity and infrastructure development.
