By George George Idowu
A higher percentage of Nigerians have asked the federal government to make farming mandatory for every household in the country to tackle food crisis confronting the nation and to solve the incessant rising costs of food commodities in the recent time.
This was the result of a social media poll organized by NatureNews on Saturday with a question “Should government make farming mandatory for every household as a way of solving the challenges of consistent food price hikes?”
The result of the poll indicated that 67% of Nigerians voted in favour of the question while 25% were against it, and 8% were indifferent.
Recall that last week, the presidency called on Nigerians to embrace subsistence farming to address the challenge of the rising cost of food.
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In a statement made by the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, he said, “In 1976, former President Olusegun Obasanjo introduced ‘Operation Feed the Nation,’ promoting farming.
“In 1984, when former President Muhammadu Buhari came in, there were shortages of rice, milk, and sugar, and the government had to open warehouses to make these items available to people. This is not the first time we are going through this kind of crisis.
“The government is investing in agriculture to make things available and affordable, and as individuals, we also have a role to play,” Onanuga added.
Onanuga acknowledged that things were not working as President Tinubu’ wanted.
He, however, assured that in the next twelve months, Nigerians will begin to see the results of the government’s efforts for the country’s benefit.
Similarly, politician Doyin Okupe and Reno Omokri, former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, have both advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of farming at their various backyards.
