The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the federal government’s directive stopping the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from allocating foreign exchange for food importation was ill-timed.
The party therefore advised President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider his directive, saying the directive was completely against the well-being of Nigerians.
The PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, Thursday in Abuja, was reacting to Buhari’s on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina state, directing the CBN to stop providing foreign exchange for importation of food into the country.
The president had said forex for food importation was unnecessary with the steady improvement in agricultural production and attainment of full food security.
He said the foreign reserve would be conserved and utilised strictly for diversification of the economy, and not for encouraging more dependence on foreign food import bills.
The president noted that the country had achieved food security, and for physical security “we are not doing badly’’.
Ologbondiyan said that the directive would cause food scarcity in the country and worsen the already harsh living conditions of Nigerians.
“The PDP states strongly that Nigerians do not, in any way, deserve such suffering being foisted on them by such directive on food.
“Such situation will only breed further despondency among our citizens, heighten our security challenges and put more pressure on compatriots, many of who, in the face of current suffering, are resorting to suicide and slavery mission as options.’’
The party urged Buhari to recover the trillions of naira alleged to have been embezzled and channel the resources towards food security for Nigerians.
