Reports of looming food shortage to be probed by lawmakers

The House of Representatives has urged government through the ministry of agriculture to partner with relevant agencies toward developing an action plan to avert food shortage in Nigeria.The House expressed concern over the massive exportation of Nigerian grains to other African countries.In a motion unanimously adopted on the need to probe the looming food crisis in the country, Danburam Abubakar Nuhu from Kano State said if action was not taken, the anticipated bumper harvests in the country, which are expected to meet local demands, would not be achieved.The lawmakers said “The federal ministry of agriculture and some agricultural associations have raised alarm over massive rate of exportation, which could lead to shortage of grains in Nigeria by January due to high demand for grains from African countries like Libya and Algeria.”Members expressed concern over the massive exportation of grains in some markets in Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Sokoto and Kebbi states where more than 500 loaded with grains leave every week.