I just thought I should remind some of us that everyone should be in the business of asking questions of our government representatives. When we ask the questions, we are not necessarily bound to offer alternatives if we are unsatisfied with our employees’ (the government) performance.
That’s simply because they offered to serve us, and to whom much is given, the best is undoubtedly expected.
Could we ask the Nigerian government if it has a strategic grain reserve? A strategic grain reserve is a government stockpile of grain to meet future domestic or international needs.
The question becomes pertinent in the face of the weevil-infested rice, 1,800 bags, supplied to Oyo state by the federal government. I believe it’s because an opposition party rules Oyo that the cat has been removed from the bag.
In other words, most of the other states might have been supplied rice that’s not ordinarily worthy of being served on dining tables. But then, since they falsely believe party loyalty is superior to loyalty to the people and the nation, they could have decided to be ‘suffering and smiling.’
Some nations buy excess from farmers to encourage them to farm during the next season. They then keep the excess as part of their strategic grain reserves. I learned that if the excess is too much, some nations even destroy it to stabilize their economies.
They pay the farmers the market price for their products, and everybody is happy.
What do we have in Nigeria?
We depend on goods seized by Customs and Excise men. The products may not be in the best of conditions. By the way, if smuggling is reduced to a very minimal level, what are we left with?
A large percentage of farm products rot away because we lack good storage facilities, so the case of weevil-infested rice should not be surprising.
But then, is COVID-19 not showing how gigantic we are among the Committee of Nations?
Alaru to nje buredi, awo ori e lo nje ti o mo!
The porter who chooses to eat bread is only eating his scalp!!
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