The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), chapter of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria has thrown it weight behind the Bill seeking the mandatory inclusion of flour production.
The Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, on Monday held a one-day stakeholders and public hearing on “Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion into Flour Production) (Establishment) Bill, 2023.
Others Bills also discussed during the public hearing include the National Food Reserve Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2023 and the Rice Development Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024.
Making his submission at the event, Mr. Adeyemi Richard, the Secretary, FCT chapter of the Association said the bill is long overdue.
“To us as Master bakers, we are ready, 100% ready, to partner with this bill. It is a bill that is long overdue. We have been waiting for it for a very long time. And we are fully prepared because we are the end-user of this flour.
He turned the public hearing into a humorous scene when he brought out a loaf of bread and said, “We have bread made with cassava here that you can taste for yourself to know that it is workable and sustainable. We brought it here for all these dignitaries to see.
Continuing, he said, “When we look at it politically, when you look at Nigeria, when we talk of insecurity, when we talk of unemployment, when we talk of food security and hunger, I believe we need to bail ourselves out of all these challenges, I believe cassava production is one of the many ways to do so.”
While noting that Nigeria is one of the largest producers of corn, Mr Richard said the mandatory inclusion of cassava flour will help to reduce the billions of naira spent on importation of wheat.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the committee chairman, Senator Saliu Mustapha said the three Bills are core to Nigeria’s Agricultural transformation.
Abuja Times reports that the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari was in attendance.