The Presidential Task Force on Food Security raised by government to force down high cost of food in the country held its inaugural meeting yesterday and resolved not to intervene directly by fixing prices of commodities in the markets.
‎The Task Force, which has several relevant ministers as members, was constituted by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Federal Executive Council meeting last Wednesday.
At yesterday's meeting presided over by the Acting President, the Task Force focused on gaining a full understanding of all factors that contribute to unduly high food prices, especially at urban markets throughout the country.
 It also considered the ways and means of urgently ameliorating the situation, particularly by addressing issues of affordability and availability.
In particular, it identified some key staple foods and the factors that were most likely driving high food prices in some parts of the country, despite bumper harvests across in many farms.
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Some of the factors identified in this regard include: the poor state of rural infrastructure like roads; multiple revenue collecting points on the highways; and inadequacy of distribution networks-all of which contribute, among other things to high transportation costs.
Against this background, the Task Force felt that government could most usefully intervene by resolving such bottlenecks without "intervening directly in the market for staple foods either though purchases or price fixing".
A statement issued after the meeting, which held at the Vice-President's Aguda House official residence, said the Task Force would be coordinate various MDAs and work closely with the private sector to explore ways of overcoming some of the supply bottlenecks in the short term.
It would also reinforce on-going medium and long-term solutions, including improving supplies and providing better storage.
"A more technical sub-group of the Task Force is now drawing up a draft plan of action for further consideration", the statement added.