The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, made this important call during a meeting with a group of online editors. This meeting was held under the aegis of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.
A statement regarding the meeting was made available to newsmen by ACOE’s Chairman, Mr. Martins Odiete, on Saturday in Abuja. The statement highlighted the key points discussed during the meeting and the urgent need for Nigerians to take up subsistence farming as a viable solution to the escalating food prices.
“In 1976, former President Olusegun Obasanjo introduced ‘Operation Feed the Nation,’ which was a significant initiative aimed at promoting farming across the country.
“In 1984, when former President Muhammadu Buhari came into power, the nation faced severe shortages of essential food items such as rice, milk, and sugar. The government had to open warehouses to make these items available to the people.
“This is not the first time we are experiencing this kind of crisis.
“The government is currently investing heavily in agriculture to ensure that food items are both available and affordable. As individuals, we also have a crucial role to play in this effort,” he said.
Mr. Onanuga acknowledged that the current situation is not unfolding as President Bola Tinubu had envisioned. However, he expressed confidence that within the next twelve months, Nigerians will begin to see the positive results of the government’s efforts, which are aimed at benefiting the entire country.
“Though people are complaining about the hardship they are facing, I mentioned to the BBC that the cost of living crisis is a global phenomenon.
“Perhaps what we are witnessing in the world is a cyclical event, and various countries will have to endure certain difficulties.
“We are currently going through this phase, but this government is making serious efforts to alleviate the hardships faced by our people,” he said.
Mr. Onanuga assured the association of a robust and collaborative relationship towards the dissemination of news in line
