Lagos – The Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) on Friday urged the Federal Government to create a policy that would drive innovation and self-reliance in food production.
The is contained in a statement signed by Mr Muhammad Funtua, the National Publicity Secretary of NIFST, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
According to Funtua, the policy will ensure food security in the country.
“Government should increase and sustain its effort to create enabling environment and well-articulated focused policy direction to drive innovation and self-reliance in food production.
“This will be in conjunction with major food value chain stakeholders such as NIFST.
“Food safety policy should be given top priority in Nigeria as practiced in all developed nations of the world.
“If the National Food Safety Policy is built on a solid foundation, the outbreak of food borne diseases will be effectively controlled and properly managed in Nigeria.
“This will lead to the promotion of Nigerian food products in the global market,’’ he said.
Funtua noted that the current fight against corruption, especially, in the agricultural and food sector should be sustained in order to enhance innovations and ensure food security in Nigeria.
He said that there should be clear performance measurement standards to appraise government policy outcomes, especially in the agricultural and food sector.
Funtua called for high level foundry and technological input to ensure sustainable upgrading of Nigeria’s local food products in the global market.
He urged government to encourage all 36 states of the federation to engage in a modern, robust agricultural system to ensure sustainable increased productivity in food production for the teaming population of Nigeria.
The national publicity secretary also called for institutional reforms that would streamline the roles of different agencies involved in food safety and quality policies.
“This will ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of foods by relevant agencies of the government,” he said.
He called on government as a matter of urgency to facilitate the passing into law the Charter Bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology.
“This will ensure the establishment of sustainable and manageable policies towards sustainable food safety and quality management system along the food supply chain in Nigeria.
“It will also give room for a sustainable innovation and upgrades for food value chain so that competitiveness can be guaranteed in Nigeria
