The Minister of Trade, Industry and Investments, Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite has expressed serious concerns over the hike in prices of food commodities in the country while expressing the Federal Government’s intention to check the ugly trend.
She remarked when she visited Kano on Thursday to identify the causes of high prices of foodstuffs and see how the Federal Government could come to the rescue.
The Minister, who interacted with stakeholders, explained the plans of the present administration to enhance job creation and enhance the value of commodities to meet export standards.
“We have come here to look at the market and see why food prices have gone up because we have gotten reports of the increase in prices in the market.
“And also to collaborate with marketers and traders and how we can ensure that there is adequate food provision.
“They are very instrumental and key to our food security agenda. It is also very important and key to the products for export, which is very important to my ministry in terms of growing export, and finished products.
“The president has also charged us to ensure that exports of raw materials are improved through the export of value-added products.
“As most of our commodities are rejected we want to find out how we can improve them to standard.
“We are here on a stakeholder engagement to find out how we can come in, to see how we can increase the amount of export to foreign countries” she stated.
The Minister also announced the plans of the Federal Government to train 10 million people in various artisan skills and get them certified as professionals.
In his address, the Kano state Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by his Chief of Staff, Shehu Wada Sagagi, called on the Federal Government to resolve the myriad of problems surrounding food production.
He lamented the tedious processes of getting registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and Standard Organization of Nigeria insisting that it is costing the investors a lot.
The Minister also visited Gerawa Oil Mills Limited and the Dala Inland Dry Port Nigeria Limited where she interacted with the private sector.
