If the prices of food stuff continue to escalate across the country, the Federal Government will open the national grain reserves.
Speaking after the inauguration of the management of three Federal Unuversities of Agriculture in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said: “In another two weeks, if we find out that the prices are not going down, we will open the grain reserves.
“Already, the price of maize is falling, even cost of sorghum and millet are beginning to drop.
“From N180, 000 per ton, maize dropped to N145, 000. In Kaduna, farmers were willing to sell at N135, 000. So it appears there is a natural drop.
“We are already moving 8, 000 tons of soya beans from Kaduna to Lagos because we are exporting the commodity. The railway system is helping. They don’t have enough wagons but the Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi is bringing in some.”
The Minister described the institutions as vital to attaining food sufficiency, pledging to fund the universities in the area of research and ensure research outputs are put to use to boost local food production..
He advised Nigerians not to panic over food shortage because aside from existing grains stored in the silos, a new round of grains were being harvested in about four states.
