The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo on Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated the Technical Committee on implementation of memo on promotion of agribusiness in Nigeria.
Inaugurating the committee, Adebayo said that the implementation would be achieved through right farm gate pricing and ban of foreigners from purchasing agricultural commodities at the farm gates.
According to the minister, the committee is expected to ensure that a number of activities outlined are properly articulated and implemented for the growth and development of the country’s economy.
While urging members of the committee to consider themselves worthy for the assignment, the minister said, “It is expected that you will justify the confidence reposed in you. ’’
“You must work as a team to realise the overall objectives of promoting agri-business in Nigeria. This is a call to national service.
“Your terms of reference includes to come up with appropriate implementation mechanism and guidelines for implementing the approved Federal Executive Council (FEC) memo,’’ he said.
Adebayo urged the committee to liaise with states, local governments and other relevant stakeholders to enforce the ban compliance and facilitate the establishment of enforcement organs in states and local governments.
“You are also to facilitate signing of Executive Order by President Muhammadu Buhari, specifying penalties and fines for violators,’’ Adebayo said.
He said, “the committee is expected to liaise with the state governments for establishment of commodity aggregation centres for export.”
According to the minister, the committee is also expected to carry out periodic assessment on the implementation and submit report to the minister.
“You are also expected to carry out other tasks that will ensure sustainable implementation of the FEC memo,’’ Adebayo declared.
Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Suleiman Audu, the Director, Commodities and Export Department in the ministry commended the minister for the opportunity to serve.
“The full implementation of the FEC approved memo will no doubt ensure that the farmers get commensurate value for their hard-work.
Audu said that it would also eliminate the threat to sustenance of the nation’s non-oil export, particularly the agric-commodity sub sector.
“It will also strengthen government’s effort at diversifying the economy from oil and gas.
“I hereby, express our readiness and willingness to provide the required leadership and coordination to ensure efficient implementation of the mandate of the committee.
“I pledge on behalf of the committee members that we will not disappoint you on this assignment,’’ Audu said.
The committee members were drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. (NEPC).
Others are from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Commodity Exchange Council, Nigeria Police, the Ministry of Justice among others.
