The African Youths Assembly for Peace (AYAP) has urged the Federal Government to make concerted efforts towards strengthening the value of the naira and checking the rising inflation in the country.
Mr. Abdul-Aziz Yusuf, Head of Research and Information at AYAP, made the call on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
While expressing concern over the prevailing economic situation, Yusuf stressed the need for the government to urgently check the rising cost of food items and other commodities in the country.
Yusuf urged the government to ensure stringent measures by redirecting its monetary policies to stabilise the naira to tackle the problem of the exchange rate.
”The government must ensure immediate and effective policy implementation that would strengthen the naira and ensure a long-term economic sustainability plan because the situation at hand requires concerted effort,” he said.
The AYAP scribe said the rising cost of living occasioned by the increase in food prices must be addressed by placing an embargo on food exports and sanctioning individuals involved in hoarding food items.
”It is unfortunate that some people are taking the dangerous step of hoarding these essential commodities, like food items, just to put more hardship on the citizenry.
”We are in an emergency situation, and unpatriotic citizens are bent on using the situation to inflict more hardship on the people. I believe the government should be strict in that aspect to sanction those involved in the act.
”As far as I am concerned, hoarding food items at this critical time is a criminal act and should be treated as such,” Yusuf said.
Yusuf also called on state governors to join efforts with the federal government to check the activities of food hoarders across the country.
NAN reports that President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed the immediate release of 42,000 metric tons of maize, millet, garri, and other commodities from the national reserve under the Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention.
NAN also reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also told reporters that the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria also committed to releasing about 60,000 metric tons of rice to the markets to ensure availability and affordability.
