The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said there is no basis to stop farmers exporting their grains after harvest because that is creating more market for them. He, however, assured that government was ready to stock its 33 silos to ensure food security in the country.
Speaking at the African Economic Conference in Abuja, organised by the African Development Bank, Ogbeh said exporting grains was a welcome development and would not lead to famine, adding “government will not allow that to happen ” The minister reiterated the assurance to allay fears by some stakeholders over unprecedented and continued influx of grains merchants from West, North and Central African countries to buy Nigerian grains.
Also speaking at a press conference in his office, Ogbeh said his ministry was already in the market also buying grains at this time that the grains have the appropriate moisture level of 13% for storage, noting that “we know some are also buying and storing hoping that the price will reach the sky and then make profit, but we’re buying.”