Don’t remove subsidy on fertiliser - Association tells FG


 The President, Commodities Brokers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Altine Kajiji, on Monday urged the Federal Government not to withdraw subsidy on fertiliser.
Kajiji made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja.
Kajiji, who opined that farmers in the country toiled without commensurate gains, said many Nigerians would be discouraged from farming if subsidy on fertiliser was removed.
``People are being given subsidy on fertiliser to be able to farm everywhere in the world. I don’t think government should remove subsidy.
``Farming is where majority of jobs are provided for citizens and that is where we can have food security, especially now that infrastructure and other incentives are not available’’, he said.
He added that the proposed Bill for the establishment of Chartered Institute of Export and Commodity Brokers of Nigeria would provide platform to attract foreign markets for agricultural produce.
Kajiji expressed the hope that the bill would also encourage farmers to meet the standard of products demanded by local and foreign customers.
``With this, a farmer will have the latitude to sell produce and maximise profit because there is a medium where brokers will be able to get buyers for him.’’
NAN reports that the House of Representatives’ Committee on Commerce organised a public hearing on the bill.
Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said there was need to strengthen commerce by creating a better environment for business to thrive in the country.
Represented by House Minority Leader, Rep. Leo Ogor (PDP-Delta), the Speaker said the economy works through buying and selling.
``Commerce is the lifeline of any community. The economy works and provides opportunity for many when people produce and sell.
``Today’s public hearing seeks to create and strengthen the enabling environment that would facilitate the process involved in the production and distribution of goods and services’’, Dogara said. 

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