OSOGBO- Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has advised President Bola Tinubu to ignore those criticising government’s recent decision to temporarily suspend tariffs on imported grains and other essential food item
Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), commended Tinubu for taken the decision to address food security concerns in the country and drive down the cost of living.
The APC chieftain, who made the remarks, while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, said that Nigerians were highly hopeful and eager to get dividend of the democracy in a short-time.
According to him, it is either those criticising the policy are benefiting from the current economy challenges, or planning to push the masses against the president by causing unrest in the country.
He noted that the global economy crisis couple with unavoidable policies introduced by the present administration were mitigating against the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president.
Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said that although the tariff suspension might not be the lasting solution to the food crisis in the country, but will cushion its effects in short term.
He said that for the president to give relief to consumers on certain products against Trade Policy on Import ban, shown that his administration was responsible and responsive to the outcry of Nigerians on the issue of food inflation.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government on July 8 announced the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on some essential food items imported through land and sea borders.
Oyintiloye said that the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics that the food inflation in the country rose to 40.66 per cent in May from 40.53 per cent in April, was a signal that government needed to take a bold step as the president did to address the situation.
“I want to commend the bold step by the president on the tariffs suspension on the food importation.
“Although, this might not be the permanent solution to the food crisis in the country, but it will go a long way in ameliorating the situation.
“The president should ignore the criticism by those who see nothing good in the decision.
“Nigeria voted for good governance, high standard of living, and in other to achieve this and many others, the president should focus on how to improve the economy and lifts the country out of inherited economic quagmire and ignore the critics,.
Oyintiloye, who noted that agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nigerian life, said the government should not relent in its aggressive efforts to make food available in abundance.
The APC chieftain urged government at all levels to jettison the old subsistence system of farming, storing and processing, and embrace mechanised systems of farming
Oyintiloye equally said the government should empower and encourage farmers with soft loans and subsidise farming implements for genuine farmers, provide adequate security, and integrate the youth into agriculture systems.
“I strong believe that with all the interventions government has put in place to tackle food crisis in the country, the projection of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, that government will crash food prices in the next 180 days is achievable,” he said. (NAN)
