Group Laments Impacts Of Forex On Food Sector

The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to save the food and beverage sector from imminent collapse through addressing foreign exchange crisis.

This is just as it warned against the threat to food security by invasion of farmers by herdsmen across the country.

The president of FOBTOB, Comrade Jimoh Oyibo who made this known to LEADERSHIP shortly after his speech at the FOBTOB’s 45th anniversary, also warned that labour is set to shut down the economy without notice if there is further increment in fuel price.

Oyibo, describing the attacks of farmers by terrorists as reason for his warning against threat to food security, said: “Since we rely on produces by our local farmers in order to have food, the current attacks on farmers, heavy taxation being forced on by herdsmen in order to access their farmlands and some farmers now securing their farmlands with hired security guards will contribute to the food sufficiency across the country.

“Only irresponsible leaders will allow its people to die in hunger. Country leadership that cannot feed its people has failed in its responsibility. President Tinubu should not feign ignorance on this threat to food security because the effects of food insecurity could be disastrous and could bring down the nation.”

Irked by the insecurity, Oyibo reiterated  that, “it is worrisome that the government could feign ignorance and allow kidnappings and other crimes against lives, property and safety of lives to linger on.  The federal government should take drastic steps to nip insecurity in the bud in order to have peace, or else, the word of one of our past leaders that if insecurity lingers more than a few hours,  it means the government itself has a hand in it.”

In a related development, the FOBTOB helmsman called on Tinubu to desist from rewarding party loyalists with ministerial posts but rather he should appoint those that will assist him in salvaging the country and help save the country from over dependence on importation in order to create jobs through growth of factories.

The chairman of the occasion, Chief Patrick Anegbe, in his keynote address, charged Nigerians to be hopeful and be patient with the current country’s leadership.

Speaking on the topic, ‘FOBTOB in the Last 45 Years’,  Anegbe, who is the MD/CEO of Intercontinental Distillers Limited, called on members to continue to nurture the spirit of collaboration, good communication, and understanding, by working together, sharing knowledge and expertise to surmount any challenges that come their way.