Food shortage imminent across Nigeria - NEC

Nigeria's National Economic Council (NEC) has revealed that food shortage is imminent across the country. The council said the shortage is as a result of mercenary attacks in 17 states of the federation.



At the first meeting of the council chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo, it called for urgent security measures to stem the attacks.

Members of the council include the 36 state governors and a number of ministers

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, alongside Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Gabriel Suswam of Benue states and the Minister of State for Works and Supervising Minister of National Planning, Bashir Yuguda, briefed journalists after the meeting.

They said unless urgent steps were taken to put an end to the incessant attacks against farmers in the 17 states, the farmers may not be able to return to their farms ahead of the farming season, which could lead to food shortage in the country. The displacement of farmers, the council said has become a matter of great concern to both the federal and state governments.

The Council mandated the Vice President to hold an urgent consultation with President Goodluck Jonathan so that an emergency meeting will be conveyed of all the affected states so that we can find an immediate solution to the problem.

The governor said Council also received a presentation by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel, on the incessant conflicts between farmers and pastorialists. The presentation highlighted the challenges and solutions to the conflicts in Nigeria. Apart from the pastoralists, some yet-to-be identified mercenaries had also invaded the affected states.

Speaking on the military style tactics employed by the mercenaries, Governor Suswam stated that some of the insurgents have been found to wear military uniforms during their operations making tracking them more difficult.

He disclosed that a comprehensive discussion was held in the Council and the Governors of Delta and Edo states said that people came into their states in trucks without cattle.

Mr. Suswam said that some of the female members of the mercenary groups that have been arrested so far were found with AK47 assault rifles.

A Technical Committee would be set up to come up with recommendations on how to manage incessant conflicts between crop farmers and pastorialists, to report within 2 weeks.