Food import window: FG assure Nigerians of high quality maize, wheat
Omeiza Bilal
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it would ensure the maize and wheat that would be imported meet the required standards.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who stated this on his verified X handle Wednesday, added that the government would ensure that safety and quality of foods are maintained.
Reiterating the FG earlier stands, Kyari, said imported food commodities will be subjected to a recommended retail price (RRP).
“We understand concerns about the quality of these imports, especially regarding their genetic composition.
“The government assures that all standards will be maintained to ensure the safety and quality of food items for consumption,” he said.
The FG recently announced 150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for Food Commodities and suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities such as maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas through land and sea borders.
The Minister however, promised that him and his team will work to actualize these crucial policies, “ensuring food security for everyone in the immediate term while continuing our strategies for long-term interventions to address underlying causes and ensure sustainable and resilient food systems in Nigeria.”
“Over the next 14 days, in close collaboration with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and the Economic Management Team (EMT), we will convene with respective agencies to finalize the implementation frameworks. We will ensure that information is publicly available to facilitate the participation of all relevant stakeholders across the country.
“The success of these measures’ hinges on the cooperation and collaboration of all relevant MDAs and stakeholders. As our nation confronts this critical food security challenge, I reiterate President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to achieving food security and ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry,” he said.
He also promised to engage with relevant stakeholders to set a GMP and purchase surplus food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve, ramp-up of Production for the 2024/2025 Farming Cycle and support smallholder farmers during the ongoing wet season farming through existing government initiatives.
