The National Economic Council (NEC),
on Tuesday in Abuja, expressed
optimism that the nation would
experience bumper harvest this year
which would force down the prices of
foodstuff.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo,
spoke at a joint news briefing with
Govs. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and
Jubrilla Bindow of Adamawa at the
end of the NEC meeting, presided by
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
According to Okorocha, Minister of
Agriculture Audu Ogbeh, briefed the
NEC on progress of government’s
agricultural policies, while the state
governors agreed to partner federal
government in agricultural
programmes.
Okorocha said NEC hailed the anchor
borrowers’ scheme of the Central Bank
of Nigeria (CBN) “as a success story’’
with many states participating in rice
farming.
He said: “Agriculture is very key for us
to come out of recession and improve
quickly on the economy of our nation.
“However, we were concerned about
some of the items being imported in
this country in the name of food.
“We have cautioned the Standard
Organisation of Nigeria, NAFDAC and
all agencies that deal with quality of
goods to do their best to ensure that
rubbish is not sent to this country in
the name of food.’’
Okorocha hinted that NEC realised that
some of the frozen fish and chicken
imported into the country were
preserved with “very dangerous
chemicals.’’
Gov. Oshiomhole also said that NEC
had a very comprehensive brief from
the Minister of Works, Power and
Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on
the challenges in the power sector.
He said the nation still did not have
enough power coupled with the
interruptions “as a result of many
factors.
“The level of generation is still far
below what the country needs to be
able to have stable power supply in the
homes and other places,’’ he said.
Oshiomhole, however, said that NEC
was satisfied that the government was
working on diversifying various
sources of power supply including
hydro, solar, wind and gas.
The governor noted that the migration
from government ownership of power
projects to private sector also posed
some challenges in the sector.
He said NEC had very robust
communication on the issue of tariffs
and community problems as well as
issues arising from exchange rate as it
affected procurement of power
infrastructure.
“But on the whole, we are confident
that the government is moving in the
right direction, adding “there are
challenges but those things will be
overcome.’’
On the blueprint to deliver housing
units for the low income earners, the
governor said NEC was satisfied that
much of the building materials to be
used would be locally made.
He added that housing was an area the
administration believed it could
generate a good number of jobs.
“Once it gets started, the whole idea is
to have a national consensus.
“Regardless of the colour of the
government that comes in, the
government policy on housing can
speak to a Nigerian policy that goes
beyond the tenure of any political
party.’’
He said NEC called for the sustenance
of efforts on housing provision, adding
that government would deliver on its
promise to provide housing in each of
the 36 states of the federation.
On the large number of unoccupied
houses in Abuja, Oshiomhole said
government would not introduce
forceful occupation of private houses,
but would provide alternative houses
that could force rents down.
The governor of Adamawa Bindo said
that one of the things the NEC
discussed was the end of the tenure of
Gov. Adams Oshiomhole.
He said NEC acknowledged his
integrity and commitment to his
people and would miss him.
He said NEC wished him well in his
future endevours.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),
reports that at the end, Oshiomhole
introduced the governor-elect of Edo,
Mr Godwin Obaseki, to the press corps
and asked the corps to extend
cooperation to him.
Obaseki said he was delighted to
interact with the press corps, adding
that the corps had influence on
reporting the polity and could not be
ignored.
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