Senate bars FG from importing N80bn rice

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 07.05.2008

SENATORS on Tuesday rejected the plan by the Federal Government to import rice with N80 billion. Many of the senators who spoke on a motion seeking to investigate the food crisis in the country decried the plan to spend such a big amount on importation of rice.

The senators, who contributed to the motion entitled: “Nigerian Food Crisis: The need to probe procurement and distributions of fertilisers and grains since 1999,” sponsored by Senator Andrew Abidemi Babalola, stated their opposition to the planned importation.

Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who was the first to speak against the planned importation, said that the money was not budgeted for.
“I have looked through the budget and I cannot see where the provision is made for the sum of N80 billion,” Senator Makarfi said, adding that Nigeria was not really facing food crisis, but that the high cost of rice all over the world was impacting negatively on the local price which took the product out of the reach of many Nigerians.

He gave the example of Niger Republic, which he said, had serious food challenges recently, but instead of committing public funds to importation, it encouraged private individuals to import and flood the markets.

“I believe that those who advise should advise well and we must have the fear of God, not just looking for avenues to make money in a very short time,” the senator said, adding that apart from the fact that the N80 billion was not appropriated, the importation would not serve a good purpose.

Senator Felix Kolawole Bajomo, in opposing the planned importation, said that the country needed to look for solutions to its food challenges on a permanent basis.

He said that the nation should approve measures to enhance food production locally. Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya said that Nigeria should learn from countries which were turning deserts to green areas.

“It is a shame that Nigeria is not exporting food to other West African countries. I am of the view that the sum of N80 billion should be set aside to improve agriculture and not to import rice,” Senator Ikenya said.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, slammed the committees of the Senate for failing in some areas of oversight functions, saying that if the committees had performed well in their oversights functions, there would not be fear of food scarcity in the country.

He asked the Federal Government to immediately put measures in place to ensure food security, adding that Nigeria should collaborate with countries that have attained food sufficiency since the Senate and other institutions collaborate with other institutions across the world.

Other senators who condemned the planned importation of rice included Senators Mohammed Mana, Nuhu Aliyu and the Chief Whip, Senator Kanti Bello.

Senator Adamu Aliero told the Senate that Nigeria was not importing food in the 1960s and 1970s because of the devotion to agriculture, adding that agriculture collapsed in the country when oil came and everyone abandoned the farm.

“I am afraid, if we allow N80 billion to be spent on rice importation, we will end up providing jobs for some businessmen. Virtually in all states of the country, we have young people who are looking for jobs, we can provide jobs if we enhance agricultural production,” Senator Aliero said.

The Senate, in approving the motion, set up a 12-man committee to investigate the current food crisis in the country. It also resolved to ask President Umaru Yar’Adua to release details of his master plan on agriculture as contained in the seven-point agenda of his government.

The Senate also resolved that the committee should submit its report in six weeks, while also recommending the short and long term solutions to the food crisis.