APC leader from Osun welcomes suspension of tariffs and duties on food

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a leader of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, has expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend duties, levies and taxes on importation of grains and other essential products.

He called on the president to ignore criticism of this policy.

Oyintiloye, a former member of the APC’s defunct presidential campaign council, suspected that the critics were either profiting from the people’s economic problems or were aiming to foment unrest against the president.

In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the APC chairman stressed that Nigerians were hopeful and waiting for the fruits of democracy.

He acknowledged that the global economic crisis and some necessary policy measures of the current administration had called the Renewed Hope Agenda into question, but that recent economic policy measures were beginning to produce positive results.

Oyintiloye, also a former MP, pointed out that while the suspension of tariffs would not be a permanent solution to the food crisis, it would mitigate its immediate impact.

He praised the president for this step.

“The President’s decision to provide relief to consumers on certain products despite the trade import ban is a testament to a responsible and responsive government,” Oyintiloye said.

On July 8, the federal government announced the suspension of customs duties, tariffs and taxes on basic foodstuffs imported across land and sea borders.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced that maize, wheat, husked brown rice and cowpeas would be subject to a duty-free import period of 150 days.

Citing data from the National Statistics Office showing that food inflation rose from 40.53 percent in April to 40.66 percent in May, Oyintiloye stressed that the government must take decisive action to improve 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 food crisis, it will significantly improve the situation.

“The president should ignore the critics and focus on improving the economy and pulling the country out of the economic quagmire he has inherited,” he said.

Oyintiloye stressed the importance of agriculture in Nigeria and urged the government to continue its vigorous efforts to ensure adequate food supply.

He advocated a move away from subsistence farming towards a mechanised system, the provision of low-interest loans and subsidies to genuine farmers, adequate security and the involvement of young people in agriculture.

“I firmly believe that the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security’s forecast that food prices will fall in the next 180 days is achievable with all the measures the government has taken to combat the food crisis,” he concluded.