The House of Representatives unveiled plans on Tuesday to investigate the privatisation/concession of 22 out of the 33 grains silos and other critical national assets by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In the bid to address the lingering food crises across the country, the House tasked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to, as a matter of priority, consider subsidising agriculture to revitalise the economy and improve food security in Nigeria.
The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Science and Engineering, Hon. Inuwa Garba (APC-Gombe).
In his lead debate, Hon. Garba observed that in September 2017, the Federal Government commenced the process of concessioning 22 out of its 33 silo complexes across the country to the private sector to ensure the availability of affordable grains across the country.
“The House is cognizant of the need to scrutinise circumstances surrounding the privatisation or concession of government silos for grain storage in the country, considering the vital role these silos play in ensuring food security across the country.
“The House is also cognizant of the need to investigate the entire process of privatisation or concession, including the criteria used for the selection of private entities, transparency in the bidding process to ensure accountability in public administration, and upholding the principles of fairness and equity.”
To this end, the House mandated the joint Committees on Agricultural Production and Services, Privatisation and Commercialization, and Public Assets to investigate the privatization/concession of 22 out of 33 government silos for grain storage and other critical national assets in Nigeria and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
Speaking during a press briefing, Hon. Garba, who lamented that he has not received the N100 million palliative promised by the Federal Government, argued that the proposed investigation became necessary with a view to ascertaining whether due process was followed.
While noting that the primary purpose of building the silos was to ensure food security, he frowned at the inability of a country of over 200 million citizens not to have silos.
He observed that farmers are faced with challenges of insecurity and socioeconomic challenges, hence the need for government intervention with a view to boosting food production across the country.
Hon. Garba, who noted that the construction of silos is a global practice, argued that the “government has the capacity to reverse it (concession), to either refund their money or create an avenue to allow the government to take over what belongs to Nigerians.
“It does not belong to any individual. The primary purpose of building those silos is to have food security in a country of over 200 million. You don’t have a food reserve? What are you talking about?”
He also lamented that the silos were concessioned along with the value chain infrastructure.
