The National Economic Council (NEC) met in Abuja on Tuesday and warned Federal Government’s agencies regulating standard of imported foods to sit up and save Nigerians from harmful foreign consumables.
The NEC is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with other members comprising state governors, Central Bank of Nigeria governor, as well as Ministers of Justice, FCT, Finance, Budget and National Planning.
The NEC meeting which discussed ways of improving food production in the country, targeted it’s warning at the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC); Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and similar organisations like the Nigerian Customs that also regulates importation.
At the end of the meeting, Governors Jubrilla Bindow (Adamawa), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) briefed the press on the outcome.
Okorocha said: “We were concerned about some of the imported goods; some of the items imported into this country in the name of food.
“And we have cautioned seriously that SON, NAFDAC and other agencies that deal with quality of goods should do their utmost best so that rubbish is not sent into this country in the name of food.
“We realised that some of the frozen chicken and fish imports into this country are being preserved with very dangerous chemicals. So we are of the opinion that this area should be looked into.”
He disclosed that the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, was invited to brief the NEC on his action plans towards improving food production in the country since a major challenge now is about making agriculture a pivot on which all the wheels of economic activities must rotate as part of measures out of recession.
”We have agreed at NEC that state governors should partner with the Federal Government in this regard to ensure productivity and high yields in the agricultural sector.
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