The minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh has told Nigerians to keep calm regarding the news of imminent famine that surfaced last week. He has said that the federal government is working tirelessly to avert such occurrence in 2017.

Chief Ogbeh, during a press conference, blamed the shift of attention to oil by elites and urban migration of youths for the current food shortage that currently plagues Nigeria.

He also said that the demand for grains by neighbouring countries has caused the shortage in food supply, which has shot up the population demand of grains by additional 180 million.

“It is a bit of difficulty for us here, because we are not yet producing as much grains as is required to meet the feeding needs of the country. But we cannot ban exports because of ECOWAS Treaty that goods produced in Africa can move freely,” he added.

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