President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to take urgent measures to address the rising cost of food items across Nigeria.
The directive was revealed by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, during a one-day capacity-building workshop for the Senate Press Corps held at the National Assembly Library Complex in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Abdullahi outlined a series of reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration aimed at stabilising food prices, strengthening agricultural value chains, and easing the economic pressure faced by Nigerian households.
Abdullahi said, “The President has issued a marching order, and a Federal Executive Council committee is actively working to ensure the seamless movement of food products across key routes. The cost of transporting food significantly affects final prices, and this government is determined to intervene.”
He explained that the government’s intervention would focus on addressing inefficiencies in the country’s food transport system, which has long been identified as one of the main drivers of food inflation. The minister noted that poor transportation infrastructure continues to cause significant post-harvest losses and price increases.
To tackle this, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is expanding the Post-Harvest for Sustainable Development Programme to help farmers reduce losses while improving storage and distribution capacity.
“The government is also launching initiatives such as the Farmer’s Health Skill Programme and a comprehensive reform of agricultural cooperatives to empower rural communities and boost local production,” Abdullahi added.
The minister also stressed the importance of reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported agricultural inputs to protect the country from global price shocks. “These reforms are crucial for ensuring food security, creating jobs, and relieving the economic burden on Nigerians,” he said.
At the same workshop, former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, warned the 10th Senate against exceeding its constitutional mandate, particularly in matters involving private companies not engaged in managing public funds or executing federal laws.
Enang, who served in both chambers of the National Assembly between 1999 and 2015, said some recent activities by legislative committees showed overreach and threatened the rule of law.
“There is a current trend where the legislature, through her committees, has exceeded her powers in many respects, especially concerning private companies and citizens beyond her remit,” Enang said.
He cited legal precedents including DHL International Nigeria Ltd v. Senate and NECA & Ors v. Attorney-General of the Federation, restating that under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the National Assembly’s investigative and legislative powers apply strictly to public entities and those managing public resources.
Quoting Justice J.H. Sankey of the Court of Appeal in the NECA case, he noted that private organisations not handling public funds or implementing federal mandates cannot legally be subjected to legislative investigations.
“Any continued action by Senate Committees in this regard, especially with pending cases in court, amounts to undermining the rule of law,” Enang warned.
His caution followed concerns raised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in an open letter published in ThisDay on September 8, where the association highlighted what it described as legislative interference in corporate governance.
Enang aligned with these concerns, arguing that such actions “create confusion, undermine the authority of MDAs, and waste valuable business resources.” He advised the legislature to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision on the matter before pursuing further inquiries into private sector operations.
Addressing journalists at the event, Enang urged correspondents covering the National Assembly to focus on substance rather than sensationalism in their reporting.
He said, “Parliamentary journalism is a specialised field that contributes significantly to democratic growth. I encourage you to study bills before reporting them. This improves both public understanding and journalistic credibility.”
He further recommended regular training opportunities for legislative correspondents through institutions like the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
Enang also encouraged journalists to consider careers in politics. “Others have done it. You too can,” he said.
The workshop was attended by key figures including the Senate Spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, and the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman. Participants included correspondents and media professionals assigned to cover National Assembly activities.