By Raymond Gukas,Jos
The Plateau state commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hosea I. Finangwai has inaugurated a Joint Technical Task Team on emergency response to COVID-19 on challenges to movement of good and Agricultural inputs in the state.
According to the Audu Bappidak Sambo, Personal Assistant to the Commissioner in a press statement, the objectives of the team is to put in place a strategy in order to facilitate free movement of Agricultural products and inputs at checkpoints to avoid food shortages and ensure 2020 production season is not hampered.
The statement said the taskforce will among others; work with relevant agencies in the State and Local Government Areas to develop a window that will facilitate the free and unhindered movement of food, livestock and Agricultural inputs without compromising the security and health of the nation.
Also, it will Issue out “clear instructions to all the security personnel in the three internal security outfits Police,Civil defence and the Army on the need to allow the free and unhindered movement of food stuff, livestock and Agricultural inputs to all parts of Nigeria.”
The team is also expected to work with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to adequately educate it’s members in ensuring that vehicles conveying foodstuff , livestock and Agricultural inputs (excluding passengers)are allowed passage to their various destinations.
It will “Ensure that adequate information clarifying the controlled movement of foodstuff , livestock and Agricultural inputs is disseminated by the media to food transporters and security personnel” it stressed.
Members of the Joint Technical Task Team will include personnel from the Nigeria Police Force as Chairman, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Member; All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Member and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Member.
Others are the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ); Member, Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners.Co-opted while the State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.(MARD), will serve as Secretary.
