Plateau: Journalists warn of looming food crisis

From Jude Owuamanam, Jos

Correspondents covering Plateau State have warned of an impending food crisis if the current state of insecurity in the state is not checked.

Chairman of the chapel, Polycarp Auta, who raised the alarm at a youth summit organised by the correspondents in conjunction with the Plateau State Joint Task Force on security, Operation Safe Haven in Jos, said that as the farming season sets in, there’s an urgent need for all citizens to sheathe their swords and allow farmers to go to their farms.

The theme of the summit was ‘Promoting Inter-ethnic and Inter- Religious Dialogue: Towards Ensuring Food Security In Plateau State,’ with Rev Fr. Stephen Akpe as the guest speaker.

It has thousands of youths from Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Jos South and Mangu in attendance.

The chairman of the journalists’ union, in his welcome address, said that dialogue still remained the best option for solving the crisis in the state.

Auta, said that the summit was part of the journalists’ modest contribution toward the peace efforts of the state government and the security agencies, particularly the Operation Safe Heaven.

He said: “Beyond reporting security issues, we felt the need to bring young people of different tribes and religions, from troubled communities in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South LGAs to fashion out best ways toward peaceful coexistence.

“As the farming season sets in, and Plateau being an agric hub, we also wish to use this medium to remind ourselves of the looming food insecurity in the country and the desire to develop a collective approach that will allow farmers cultivate enough food to feed the state and the nation in general. This, therefore, informs the choice of the topic for this summit.

“Also, we are strongly convinced that dialogue serves as a major avenue for people to air out their views, concerns, and suggestions, hence, hope that this event will elicit conversations and change our mind-sets toward addressing the current security challenges bedevilling our dear state.”