24th July, 2012
The insecurity in the country caused by the activities of Boko Haram will cause food crisis if the Islamic fundamentalists are not checked.
This was the submission of a member of the House of Representatives representing Ijebu East/Ijebu North/Ogun Waterside Constituency, Mr. Abiodun Abudu-Balogun.
Abudu-Balogun explained that the murderous campaign by Boko Haram would impact negatively on food supply between the North and South of the country.
Abudu-Balogun said he was worried because his research in major markets in the Southwest revealed that some essential agricultural produce from the North have become scarce and this may lead to a national food crisis next year if the insecurity caused by Boko Haram is not checked.
“I think we are all sitting on a time bomb. If it explodes, it will be a national disaster for the country,” said Abudu-Balogun during the Ogun State local government election in Ijebu Waterside Local Government Area.
“In the next six months, Nigeria will experience food scarcity caused by the Boko Haram insurgency. If you go to Mile 12 market in Lagos and other major markets in the Southwest, you will discover that agricultural products like onion, tomatoes and others brought in by northerners are very costly. This is because farmers in the north are not only finding it difficult to engage in farming but they are not finding it easy to get their products down to us here in the South. What will likely happen will be a major famine in the nearest future if we do not stop the activities of the Boko Haram,” he said.
Abudu-Balogun, who is the Vice Chairman of House Committee on Internal Security told P.M.NEWS that he would move a motion on the floor of the House very soon to alert the nation of the imminent food crisis.
—Taiwo Adelu