The Federal Government yesterday warned of an imminent food crisis if quelea birds, locusts and grasshoppers gathering in Niger Republic are allowed entry into the country.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh gave the warning during an emergency meeting with state commissioners of Agriculture in the 12 states in the country in Abuja.
The Commissioners of Agriculture in Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto and Jigawa states have confirmed the presence of the birds in about six -seven local governments areas in the n states.
Ogbeh stated that the presence of army warm had already started affecting grains in some parts of the country. This, he said, had led to increase in the price of maize to N15,000 in the country. He also stated that if the quelea birds and locusts as well as grasshoppers are allowed to enter into the country, they would do terrible damage to the farms.
