FG Convenes Emergency Meeting to Address Rising Food Prices 

The federal government has convened an emergency meeting to address the spate of protests in some parts of the country following the rising cost of food nationwide. The meeting, held yesterday evening at State House, Abuja, was chaired by Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. It came on the heels of protests in Minna and Kano over the rising cost of living in the country. But even as convened the emergency meeting, it insisted there was enough food in the country, and accused opposition elements of trying to exploit the high food prices and the depreciation of the naira to cause havoc. The government urged millers and major commodity traders to make their food reserves available. President Bola Tinubu, who returned to Abuja last night after a two-week private visit to France, had directed a special presidential committee to take immediate steps to arrest the worsening food situation. The House of Representatives, yesterday, appealed to the federal government and all critical stakeholders to open the national food reserve. The House also advised the government to explore the option of importation of grains, poultry products, meat, beverages, healthcare and pharmaceutical products as a short-term measure to tackle the growing shortages.
THISDAY