The Federal Government has inaugurated a Technical Inter-ministerial Committee, to curtail unfair trade malpractices and exploitation of Nigerian farmers by foreigners and promote competitive premium pricing as the impetus for increased productivity in the commodity subsector.
While inaugurating the committee in Abuja, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, while explaining that his ministry, together with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, had on March 9, 2022, jointly presented a memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to promote agri-business in Nigeria through the right farm gate pricing.
Adeniyi noted that the memo was approved by the FEC to address challenges impeding the development of the agricultural commodity and ban foreigners or their representatives from purchasing agricultural commodities at the farm gates.
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According to him, there are many cases of failed contractual agreements between farmers and indigenous off-takers due to the exploitation of Nigerian farmers by foreigners who come to Nigeria to mop up agricultural commodities at the farm gates and in turn offer farmers prices below market value.
He charged the committee to come up with an appropriate implementation mechanism and guidelines by liaising with states, local governments and other critical stakeholders nationwide to enforce the ban and compliance.
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The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Evelyn Ngige, also spoke, and was represented by the Director, Human Resource Management in the Ministry, Mr. Yisau Adepoju, who stated that the committee is tasked with ensuring that the approved memo is fully implemented.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Suleiman Audu, while commenting on the appointment, appreciated the government for the confidence reposed in them and pledged on behalf of the committee members not to disappoint the government on the critical assignment.
