Ignore criticism of the suspension of tariffs on food imports

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has advised President Bola Tinubu to ignore critics of the government’s recent decision to temporarily suspend tariffs on imported grains and other essential food commodities.

By Victor Adeoti

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has advised President Bola Tinubu to ignore critics of the government’s recent decision to temporarily suspend tariffs on imported grains and other essential food commodities.

Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the APC, commended Tinubu for his decision to address the country’s food security issues and reduce the cost of living.

The APC chairman, who made the remarks while speaking to journalists in Osogbo on Sunday, said Nigerians were very hopeful and would be happy to reap the fruits of their democracy in a short period of time.

In his view, critics of this policy are either profiting from the current economic challenges or they are planning to turn the masses against the president by causing unrest in the country.

He pointed out that the global economic crisis, combined with the inevitable policies of the current administration, would harm the President’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said that while the suspension of tariffs may not be a permanent solution to the country’s food crisis, it will mitigate its impact in the short term.

He said the relief given to consumers by the President’s trade policy and import ban on certain products shows that his administration is taking responsibility and responding to the outcry of Nigerians over food inflation.

It may be recalled that on July 8, the Federal Government announced the suspension of duties, fees and taxes on some staple food items imported by land and sea.

Oyintiloye said the latest data released by the National Statistics Office, which showed that food inflation in the country rose from 40.53 percent in April to 40.66 percent in May, was a sign that the government needed to take a bold step like the President did to address the situation.

“I want to commend the President’s bold move to suspend tariffs on food imports.

“While this may not be a permanent solution to the country’s food crisis, it will go a long way towards improving the situation.

“The president should ignore the criticism of those who see nothing good in the decision.

“Nigeria voted for good governance and a high standard of living. To achieve this and many other goals, the president should focus on how to improve the economy and pull the country out of the inherited economic quagmire and ignore the critics.”

Oyintiloye noted that agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nigerian life and said the government must not relent in its aggressive efforts to ensure adequate food supply.

The APC leader called on government at all levels to abandon the old subsistence system of farming, storage and processing and introduce mechanized farming systems.

Oyintiloye also said the government should empower and encourage farmers through soft loans, subsidise the purchase of agricultural equipment for genuine farmers, ensure adequate security and integrate the youth into agriculture.

“I firmly believe that the prediction of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, that the government will crash food prices in the next 180 days is achievable with all the measures the government has put in place to tackle the food crisis in the country,” he said. (NAN)