Ignore critics of suspension of tariffs on food imports – APC leader calls on Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu was urged to ignore criticism of the suspension of duties, levies and taxes on the import of grains and other products into the country.

The appeal was made on Sunday by Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, while speaking to journalists in Osogbo.

DAILY POST recalls that the Federal Government announced on July 8, 2024, the suspension of customs duties, tariffs and taxes on some staple food items imported across land and sea borders.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the listed food items, including maize, wheat, husked brown rice and cowpeas, would benefit from a 180-day duty-free import period.

Oyintiloye claimed that Nigerians are full of hope and eagerly awaiting the fruits of democracy. He said critics of the policy are either profiting from the economic challenges facing the Nigerian people or are planning to incite the people against the president through unnecessary unrest.

He stressed that the global economic crisis coupled with the inevitable policies of the current administration worked against the President’s “Renewed Hope” agenda and suggested that the recent steps taken to rehabilitate the economy were slowly showing the desired results.

“While the suspension of tariffs may not be a permanent solution to the food crisis in the country, it will mitigate the impact of the food crisis rocking the country in the short term. The President should be commended for this bold move.

“The fact that the President granted relief to consumers on certain products despite trade policy providing for an import ban shows that his government acted responsibly and responded to the outcry of Nigerians.”

Oyintiloye disclosed that the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that food inflation in the country increased from 40.53 percent in April to 40.66 percent in May, a sign that the government must take a bold step like the President has done to address 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,” he said.

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

“I call on the government at all levels to abandon the old subsistence system of farming, storage and processing and introduce mechanized farming systems.

“The government should empower and encourage farmers with soft loans, subsidise agricultural equipment for genuine farmers, ensure adequate security and integrate youth into agriculture.

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