BBC Pidgin of Tuesday, 16 July 2024
Source: BBC
All farmers association of Nigeria dey complain say goment recent decision to allow tax-free food importation for di next few months na big threat to farmers and di national economy.
Dem believe say dis move fit bring plenty setback for local farmers and cause many Nigerians to lose dia jobs.
Dis mata na as goment dey try to control food inflation and reduce hardship for di average Nigerian by lifting all tax on imported food items.
But di farmers association of Nigeria dey see dis policy as one wey fit cause wahala.
Yunusa Halidu, di National Secretary of di farmers association of Nigeria for one interview wit BBC News Pidgin say "Pipo wey dey happy wit di new tax-free food import policy no sabi say e go cause wahala wey e fit bring down di national economy."
"Di food wey dem go import to Nigeria na oda pipo farm am for abroad. Why we no go farm our own food instead of buying from outside Nigeria? If pipo dey expect dis to reduce hardship, e no go happen," e tok.
"Dis decision na like threat to di national economy sake of say any Nigerian wey dey farm for living go loose im job, along wit oda pipo wey dey work under am," e add.
Halidu also point out say di main reason why food prices high for Nigeria na di insecurity wey dey prevent farmers from going dia farms.
E argue say if goment fit address dis security challenges, farmers go fit produce enof food wey go to meet di kontri need, wey go reduce di need for imports.
Di President of di African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Dr Akinwumi Adesina say goment decision fit destroy di kontri agriculture.
“Nigeria recently announced policy to open dia borders for massive food imports, just to tackle short-term food price hikes, e dey depressing,” Adesina tok.
E warn say di policy fit undermine all di hard work and private investments wey don go into Nigeria agriculture sector.
Economic expert Sani Sulaiman for im arguement say benefits and drawbacks dey for goment decision on food import.
"First, dis temporary decision wey Nigerian goment take fit help fix food prices, make food more affordable for Nigerians. E go also create competition between local and imported food, which fit benefit us if goment plan am well," e explain.
"Wen food items dey import to Nigeria, goment suppose make sure say di food reach all di parts of di kontr and nobody buy am to hoard," e add.
"If goment take all necessary measures, dis go good for Nigeria." Sulaiman tok.
But evri kontri dey wan dey self-sufficient for food production and to fit export food items, wey go boost di national economy. "If one country fit export food items, e go earn revenue wey go good for di national economy."
Sulaiman also warn say if goment no plan well-well while importing food items from outside Nigeria, e fit become threat to di economy.
"Need dey for Nigerian goment to take good measures on dis, or e go affect Nigerian economy by impacting our local farmers," e tok.
E add say if naira regain im value, e go help becos di money wey we go use buy food from outside Nigeria go get more purchasing power over naira. Strengthening di naira go reduce di economic strain wey dey caused by spending foreign currency on imports.
One resident for Sokoto, Aliyu Abubakar say nothing don change for di prices of food even afta goment announcement.
Abubakar say, "One big mudu for rice still dey sell for 4,000 naira ($2.47, while one big mudu of beans dey sell for 5,000nNaira ($3)."
"So even say Nigerian goment decide to open di borders, nothing don change."
E add, "We hope say food prices go drop soon as di Nigerian goment don decide to open land borders."
Di All farmers association of Nigeria insist say while goment decision fit offer short-term reduction of food prices, di long-term effect fit bring more damage.
Dem argue say di entry of cheaper, import food fit take local farmers out of business, causing increased unemployment and oda economic instability.
Di Association dey call for good approach wey go help local food production dat go help Nigerian farmers.