A Public Policy Analyst, Comrade David Adenekan, has faulted the belief that Nigeria can bridge the wide gap of deficits in food production through subsistence farming.
Adenekan in a statement he issued in Abuja, said the authorities should go beyond mere declaration of the state of emergency in food security by addressing the challenges of farming and provision of food. He said: “Given the worsening economic hardship and the deplorable security conditions, …
“It is imperative to note that calling on Nigerians to embark on subsistence farming will not bridge the large gap of deficit in food production and increase or provide raw materials for our agrarian industries.
“Subsistence farming cannot handle the equipment needed for rubber plantation and cocoa production to provide raw materials for the manufacturing industries and exports to boost our foreign reserve earnings.
“The cost of machinery, such as tractors for medium commercial farming has skyrocketed. A subsistence economy will not grow our GDP in a market economy. Stop blowing the call for a subsistence economy out of proportion”.
Adenekan also queried the current pump price of PMS, which he said was higher compared to countries like Venezuela and Libya, among others, and demanded its reversal.
He said, “I have researched the prices of fuel in other oil-producing countries like Venezuela – $0.18 per gallon, Saudi Arabia – $0.48 per gallon, Libya – $0.54 per gallon, Turkmenistan- $0.71 per gallon and Bahrain- $0.78 per gallon.
“It is based on the above-verified information that one needs to query the rationale behind selling a litre of fuel for N1,030 (about $0.58) when you can buy a gallon (about 4 litres) for at most $0.78 in other countries listed above.
“In addition, one needs to evaluate other by-products of crude oil like bitumen, naphthalene, Napalm, petroleum jelly, refined asphalt, diesel, kerosene and microcrystalline wax, and posit that some of these by-products can be used as a subsidy to make petroleum very affordable or even free for the masses.
“Prejudice apart and without mincing words, I am joining other concerned citizens across the country to demand the immediate reversal of the pump price to what the Nigerian masses can afford.”
Adenekan also called for urgent reforms amid worsening economic conditions and security challenges facing the country.
He said: “This is alarmingly high and a strong factor responsible for the severe hunger and untold hardship currently being experienced across the country.
“Suffice it to say that the inflation rate in the country defies all logic, with the price of staple foods like rice, bread, beans, cassava, grains and tomatoes that have continued to soar higher daily. A 50kg bag of rice is now N140k, a crate of eggs is N7k (depending on the size), 3 tubers of yam is about N12k, a ‘kongo’ measure of gari is about N3k and a small plastic of beans sells for N7k.
“Nigeria’s poverty rate is high, with multiple indicators of the poverty index used to measure it. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 63% of Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor, which is over one-quarter of all possible derivations.
“This is higher in rural areas (72%) than in urban areas (28%). The fuel pump price per litre is between N1030 and N1150, depending on the location. The shortage of electricity and the erratic power supply in most parts of the country is unspeakable.”
Adenekan expressed concerns about the alarming rate of banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and farmers/herders clashes, which are responsible for the very low level of production in our farmlands across the country.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to swiftly move into action as the Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to nip the situation in the bud. He said: “Also, the rising surge of insecurity across the country is alarming. The invasion of a new dangerous terrorist group called Lakurawa into the northwest geo-political zone, particularly in Sokoto state, has led to a rising surge of insecurity in that part of the country.
“Yes, the bandits are almost having a free field in some parts of Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina and Borno states.”