About 33 states lack buffer storage to checkmate food emergency

Only four states out of 37 including FCT have in place buffer storages to checkmate occasions when there is food emergency that result to hike in prices.

This was part of a concern a particular memo  at the  last year council meeting brought forward in order to compel states' government to implement the 2nd tier of the national food storage policy  to compliment the Federal Government ( FG)  five percent effort during the hike in produce' prices.

The memo which was approved highlighted the unsparing global negative impact of climate change on agriculture and food security, saying that the national council must prevail on states to comply with the 1978 policy that stipulated them to put in place a buffer storage of 10% of the annual food being produced within the state to serve as first line food intervention and prices stabilization.

The Agric Minister, Sen. Abubarka Kyari and all the council members were told that only the FG' s effort through 5% strategic food reserve by the FMAFS cannot be enough to tackle national food emergency.

The memo noted that 

 many state governments except about four in the country have yet to adopt the buffer storage policy, warning that the absence of such facilities could hinder the country’s efforts to achieve food security. 

The introduction of buffer storage systems is part of the FG’s strategy to enhance food security in collaboration with states and local governments to stabilize food prices and prevent the wastages during surplus food. 

The memo argued that  " The policy aims to create a network of well-managed storage facilities at the state level, enabling governments to stockpile essential food items and ensure their availability during times of scarcity or price hikes"

While the request of the memo was approved by the council under the minister, it was stated that a survey conducted by the FMAFS in collaborations with Alliance for a Green Revolution Africa  said Nigeria needs an estimated total stock capacity of 2,646,000 million metric tons of assorted food in a year.

The memo also noted that most states except Niger, Gombe, Oyo and Kano have not complied to the 10% buffer storage even at tremendous support being given by the FG.