An Agricultural Expert and National Cordinator, Zero Hunger Nigeria Doctor Tunde Arosanyin has called for proactive steps to be taken by Government to avoid high cost of food items in the Country.

Doctor Arosanyin made the call while speaking to Newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State.

He said that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine if not checked might lead to the high cost of bread, noodles and pastas in general.

According to him, Nigeria is among the countries that consume noodles and bread which are by-product of wheat hence the need for more production to stem the scarcity that might sprung up from the Russia-Ukraine war.

He called for adequate support for farmers and provision of irrigation facilities especially in the Northern parts of the Country as it’s favourable to the growth of wheat.

The National Cordinator stressed that the ongoing war between both countries would prevent export and import of wheat urged Government at all levels to assist Nigerian farmers to produce the grains for local consumption and export.

Doctor Arosanyin disclosed that some wheat could be harvested within Seventy days hence the need for urgent action by Government to harness the opportunity which inturn would also provide jobs for the teeming youths as well as raw materials for ailing industries.

It would be recalled that Nigeria imported One point Four, Eight Billion Dollar worth of wheat in 2019, according to Observatory of Economic Complexity, an aggregator of Economic and Trade data making the Country the world 6th largest importer of wheat that year from Russia.