Farmers lament harassment by security officers, donate 60,000 eggs to Lagos

The Feed Industry Practitioners Association of Nigeria (FIPAN) has called on security agencies in the country to implement the curfew with a human face across the country. The body made this known at the weekend when it donated 60,000 eggs to the Lagos State government as its support to vulnerable families in the state affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

President of FIPAN, Dr. Folarin Agberin, lamenting the losses incurred by their members during the period of the lockdown, said: “The farmers are also in need of intervention from government. We are facing the problem of gluts, losses and drastic fall in price, which had made farmers sells at a cheaper rate since we deal mostly in perishable goods that cannot be stored for a long time.

“Coupled with this, the law enforcement officers severally harass our farmers and extort money from them despite reports that classify us as essential workers whose movement should not be restricted. But it is only the doctors and journalists that our security agencies fear. Government should come to our aid to stop law enforcement agents from constantly harassing our people,” he said.

On the donation, Agberin said the palliative was released to appreciate government’s effort and support them in flattening the curve of the pandemic.

“Eggs are known to be a complete food, which is also a recipe that contains proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which can be use to fight and repair tissues by eating an egg a day.”

Also, Mr. Godwin Egbede, chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria Lagos chapter (PANLAG), called for a cessation of hostilities against farmers on the roads. “Most of our farmers bringing in materials from other states have been facing challenges with the law enforcement agencies. Many times, we explain to them that farmers are part of the essential workers but they won’t answer.

“There was a case of a farmer who loaded 22 vehicles loaded with day old chicks going to the east from Ibadan, which the law enforcement agencies in Ibadan stopped on the way. Before the matter could be resolved, about 300 life chickens were dead”.