ECOWAS wants declaration of state of emergency on food security

The Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) has called for the declaration of a State of Emergency on food security in the region

The Parliament at the end of its delocalised meeting held at Gunea Bissau tasked ECOWAS Commission to meet member countries and declare food security as a national emergency. This, according to them, will help increase political will by the governments to address the crisis.

A member of the committee and Member of Parliament (MP) from Nigeria, Hon. Oghene Emma Egoh, while reading the draft report of the meeting on behalf of the joint committee, said that the meeting also recommended that the ECOWAS Commission should liaise with the Nigerian government to ensure that fertiliser manufacturing companies in Nigeria sell to needy countries in the region first before exporting in bulk to other regions.

The parliamentarians, however, frowned at the cutting of trees for use as firewood and charcoal, stressing that it is greatly depleting forest resources.

“The cutting down of the trees to use as firewood and charcoal is greatly depleting our forest resources.

“Research and investment should be carried out to develop alternative sources of energy such as gas, solar and other biodegradable materials for use in domestic cooking and other household requirements.”

They called on regional, national and local authorities to partner and collaborate to enforce by-laws to prevent pollution of rivers and agricultural land through such activities as illegal mining.

They also requested member countries to develop and implement information and education strategies for the people to be aware of combating climate change, saying the government should engage and partner with civil society and parliamentarians in education and information dissemination.

The parliamentarians urged ECOWAS Commission to work with governments to come up with an innovative strategy to mobilise funds to implement climate change initiatives that enhance sustainable agricultural growth and production.

They also enjoined national governments to mobilise funds to set up Agricultural Development Banks to provide loans and credits to farmers to invest in acquiring land and purchasing inputs and machinery for modern and improved agriculture and farming.

They noted that ECOWAS parliament should work with national parliaments towards the achievement of direct elections of MPs, charging MPs to ensure the allocation of 10 per cent of the annual national budget to the agricultural sector.