Reps Express Worry Over High Cost Food Items….Inaugurate Legislative Network On Nutrition
The House of Representatives has expressed concern over food insecurity, rising food prices and economic challenges of the country.
This concern was raised during the inauguration of the national Legislative Network on nutrition and food security held by tge House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in Abuja, Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, speaker of the house SULEIMAN Abbas stated that the event shows the nation's commitment to address food and nutritional issues.
Represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the acknowledged the sufferings of the Nigerian public due to high food costs and declining nutritional standards, urging Nigerians to support government efforts to finding solutions to the food crises.
He said the government policies will yield positive results in the future.
Hon. Chike Okafor, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, emphasized that malnutrition and food insecurity pose a significant threat to Nigeria's socio-economic development, exacerbating the burden on ordinary citizens due to worsening inflation while Debo Ogundoyin, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers, stressed the importance of prioritizing food security and nutrition for the wellbeing of citizens.
The food crises in the country is viewed as the bane of unity and progress, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, and other government functionaries at the event, emphasized the need for collective action to address malnutrition, a key pillar of President Tinubu's renewed hope agenda.
Nutrition and food security are constitutional responsibilities requiring increased investment from all three tiers of government, stakeholders here want government to prevent and alleviate suffering, citing banditry, kidnapping, and policy framework as contributing factors to malnutrition and food crisis which must be resolved for their to be food security.