Following the federal government announcement of the approval of 150-day duty-free importation of maize, husked brown rice and wheat as part of measures to combat rising food inflation, stakeholders have reacted to the announcement. While many felt that there is a need to do more than suspension of the taxes, others were of the view that the government should be commended for the move.
Amadu Othman, a Kano based grain merchant said, what Nigeria and Nigerians need or require is a long-term solution and not a temporary solution adding that 150 days are too little to put in place the damages done by the present economic situation.
He explained that to him, there is nothing worth celebrating in as much as the government did not put on ground measures that will address the issue of Naira devaluation.
“This suspension will not change anything, the suspension will only work effectively if our Naira has regained its value in the world exchange market, only then will the suspension serve as a temporary solution. What Nigeria requires is a long-term solution that will address the nation’s inflation rate,” he said.
Similarly, the state secretary of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Alhaji Ado Yakasai stated that the gesture done by Mr President is indeed commendable, but it won’t change the narrative.
According to him, what the nation needs is reintroduction of agricultural intervention to smallholder farmers. He explained that the intervention by the previous government had jerked the nation to number one in Africa in terms of rice production adding that with the suspension of the intervention, Nigeria had dropped to number three.
“We cannot continue to depend on others to feed us, we can do it because we have done it. What we need is a strong government investment in agriculture, what we need is a strong smallholder farmer’s encouragement. The suspension will no doubt suspend many farmers and millers out of business,” he revealed,
A Kano based farmer Shehu Umar told our reporter that the innovation by FG will only compound issues as it will only provide a temporary solace to the people.
A father of 6 and a civil servant with the state teacher’s service board Malam Idrees Shu’aibu said, they are happy that the government has began to respond to the plight of its citizens adding that he is optimistic that the move by FG will surely ease the current economic hardship and check mate the inflation.
