By Gbadamosi oladimeji
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has called on security agencies to ensure free movement of food and other farm products around the country.
Aregbesola disclosed this during a meeting at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in Abuja on Monday.
“In other to facilitate free movement of food & ensure 2020 production season is not hampered, we agreed that relevant security agencies at various checkpoints facilitate passage of vehicles conveying foodstuff, perishable farm products & livestock without compromising national security & health measures” he said.
The ex-Osun State governor further urged law enforcement agents to liaise with local and state government officials in determining modalities for movement of foodstuffs to and from markets during the lockdown whilst working with the framework of the Federal Covid-19 Emergency Action Response Plan.
On the 30th of March, the Federal Government ordered lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun States but excluded dealers on essential commodities such as foodstuff, drugs and agricultural products.
As of Monday, Nigeria has 627 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with the total death toll at 21 and 170 recoveries.
