The Christian Conscience, NGO, has urged the Nigerian government at all levels to ensure food security for the citizens now, particularly during the rainy and planting season.
The non-denominational organization gave the charge during its monthly executive meeting on Wednesday in Lagos.
This was contained in a communique issued and jointly signed by its Chairman, Yetunde Akinluyi and National General Secretary, Kolawole Verrals, at the end of the meeting.
In this communique, the group attributed some of the major challenges confronting farmers in the country to insecurity and banditry.
It also raised concerns that accessibility to funds for upscale farming may not be there for farmers.
“Farmers in some parts of the country are being forced by bandits to pay ransom before they can access their farms. Many have also lost their lives and properties to the terrorists. For this reason, hundreds of thousands of Nigerian farmers have deserted their farmlands to seek refuge elsewhere.
“This has led to the unavailability of an incessant increase in the prices of food items across value chains and brought untold hardships to the people. Security is the primary responsibility of the government at all levels and this must be guaranteed by all means possible,” the communiqué read.
To avoid food insecurity and curtail the increasing cost of food items and prevent hunger in the months ahead, the group said, governments at all levels must ensure that insecurity, banditry and hindrance to food transportation are tackled immediately to ensure farmers have access to their produce buyers and farmlands during and beyond the rainy season.
The NGO also felicitated with Muslims on the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir, urging them to seek God’s peace and security for the nation.
“In the mood of the approaching Eid al-Adha celebrations, the Christian Conscience felicitates Muslim faithful and all across the country and urges them to pray ceaselessly for Nigeria to continue to witness lasting peace and security at all times,” it stated.
The group’s call is in line with some of the decisions of the South West governors who met recently to chart a common course and work together through their relevant Ministries and Agencies on Agriculture and Food Processing to ensure food security, improved social infrastructure, security of lives and properties of their citizens.
