TheCable

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, says the country is likely to experience famine in January.

Speaking in an interview with Pyramid, a radio station in Kano, Shehu said the huge demand for cereals and grains from the global market could result to the disastrous situation.

He said the ministry of agriculture had advised President Muhammadu Buhari to sensitise Nigerians on the issue.

Shehu also said steps should be taken to curtail the high rate of the exportation of the products.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of the staples.

“Over the past year, providence has blessed Nigeria with a bountiful harvest of grains, more than enough to feed the country and to export to other countries,” he said.

“At present, there is a high demand for grains from Nigeria, from African countries as distant as Libya and Algeria, and from places as far away as Brazil. However, the ministry of agriculture has raised concerns about a massive rate of exportation, which could lead to a shortage of grains in Nigeria by January.

“The huge demand for our grains in the global market is creating an excellent environment for the mindless export of Nigerian food across our borders and unless this is curtailed, Nigerian markets will be bereft of grains by January next year.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is not in any way opposed to or intent on tampering with that. On the other hand, exporters also have a moral obligation to make their produce available to Nigerians who live within our country’s borders, to ensure that our citizens have access to food.”

Shehu said at least, 500 trucks loaded with grain leave Nigerian markets every week.

He listed the major markets involved in this troubling exportation to include the Dawanau market in Kano, Naigatari in Jigawa, Bama in Borno, and Ilela in Sokoto, as well as three other main markets in Kebbi State.