Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere has urged the President Bola Tinubu-led government to temporarily allow the importation of essential food items to tackle the growing hunger in the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere expressed concern over the level ofbhardship being experienced by Nigerians.
Ajayi said the president should ensure that staple food and other essential items are imported to “fill the yawning gap in food supply in the country”.
He, however, maintained that the importation should be for a short period of time like, “three to five months perhaps”, to allow for local production.
“In addition to opening food storages in the country, special arrangement must be made for all the 774 local government areas to embark on crash agricultural productions straddling all aspects; crops and livestock.
“This is to ensure that by the time the window of food importation is closed, a good number of local foods would have matured for harvesting.
“The government must also ensure that food merchants are assisted or encouraged to ensure that food prices come down considerably”, Afenifere added.
