By Mercy Aikoye
In it’s effort to ameliorate the challenges faced by Nigerians experiencing recurrent floods in the North Central region of the country, the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, and Finance to immediately initiate processes for the prompt distribution of palliative measures as provided in the Supplementary Appropriations Act, 2023 to facilitate and promote dry season farming in the North Central Zone.
In a motion raised on the floor of the House, Hon. Ahmed Adamu Saba who led the debate on the need to Release Palliatives and Sundry support for Dry Season farming in the North Central Zone, said flooding has severely impacted food production, threatened farmers’ livelihoods and worsened food security issues in the country.
Hon. Saba reminded the House that on Thursday, November 2, 2023, the National Assembly passed the N217trn 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill which includes palliative measures like wage awards for emergencies in infrastructure, insecurity and labour demands.
He also notes that Goal 2 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aims to eradicate hunger by 2030, enhancing small-scale farmers’ productivity and income, thus promoting sustainable food production in Nigeria;
“Further notes that the Federal Government has declared a national emergency on food security due to rising inflation, making basic foods more expensive, and escalating malnutrition and poverty rates across the country.”
“Aware that rural communities in North Central are major cereal producers in the country, utilizing terraced savannahs for food production despite the region’s unique dry season, which can be improved with irrigation.”
The House of representatives however resolves to urge the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to provide adequate irrigation sources and water supply for agricultural production in the North Central Zone.
The House also mandated the Committees on Agricultural Production and Services, Finance and Water Resources to ensure compliance.
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