Food security: Police boss heads taskforce on Covid 19

• AFAN, NUJ, others are members

The Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Alhaji Sabo Nanono has appointed Assistance Inspector of Police (AIG) Mr. Austin Agbonlahor as the chairman of newly constituted Joint Technical Taskforce on food security matters  that will ensure minimal impact of pandemic COVID 19 on farming season  as directed by the President Mohammadu Buhari. 

Alhaji Nanono inaugurated the new taskforce committee yesterday in a press release made available which was signed by the director of information, Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna.

Nanono in the statement said that the technical taskforce becomes inevitable as being directed by the President towards ensuring food  security with unhindered food movement cum assurance to ensuring minimal negative effects of the pandemic disease on 2020 planting season through affiliation with other stakeholders at  the states and local government areas across the federation.

Other members of the technical taskforce according to the press statement are  ‘’ ACG Bunu Modu, Nigeria  Security & Civil Defense Crops – Member, Umar Farouk Mudi ,National President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) – Member, Representative ,Nigeria Army – Member, Mr. Chris Isizuzo, National Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ibikunle Tajudeen Barruwa, National President, NURTW – Member and Zubariu Abdullahi, Director, Planning and Policy Coordination ,FMARD – Secretary’’
Responding on behalf of the Joint Technical Task Team, the Committee Chairman, AIGP, Austin Agbonlahor pledged the committee’s commitment to the tasks ahead and promised to deliver on its mandate.

The statement listed the following as terms of reference

• to work with relevant agencies in the States and Local Government Areas to develop a window that will facilitate the free and unhindered movement of food, livestock and Agricultural inputs without compromising the Security and health of the nation.

• to issue out clear instruction to all the security personnel in the three internal security outfits of police, civil defense and the army on the need to allow the free and unhindered movement of foodstuff, livestock and Agricultural inputs to all parts of Nigeria.

• to work with the National Union of Roads Transport workers (NURTW), to adequately educate its members in ensuring that vehicles conveying foodstuff, livestock and Agricultural inputs (excluding passengers) are allowed to pass and

• to ensure that adequate information clarifying the controlled movement of foodstuff, livestock and Agricultural inputs is disseminated by the media to food transporters and security personnel.