Food insecurity: Russian Pres. Putin promises Africa free grains supply

Russia President Vladimir Putin has promised free supply of grains to African countries across several spheres to tackle food insecurity and deepen relations with African countries.

Putin made this known on Monday in a statement titled, “Russia and Africa: Joining Efforts for Peace, Progress and a Successful Future”, ahead of the second Russia-Africa Summit and Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.

Persecondnews reports that the summit scheduled to hold from July 27 to July 28 in St. Petersburg, Russia, seeks to strengthen relations between Russia and Africa, outlining priority cooperation areas for the coming decades of the 21st century.

According to Putin, Russia attaches great importance to the Summits, with expectations of adopting a comprehensive declaration, a number of joint statements and approval of the extension of the Russia – Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan to 2026.

He noted that Russia has strong, deep roots with Russia’s support to African countries in education, infrastructure, power, health, defence and security, among others, since the times of the Soviet Union till date.

This is also as he pledged Russia’s continuous and free supply of grains to the continent to tackle food insecurity in some countries of Africa, understanding the importance of uninterrupted food supplies for the socio-economic development and political stability of the African states.

Putin, however, noted that Russia would be boycotting the “grain deal” it hitherto facilitated which ended on July 18 for the failure of the deal to meet humanitarian purposes and supply the grains to Africa free of charge.

“On this basis, we have always paid great attention to issues related to the supply of wheat, barley, maize and other crops to African countries.

“We have done so both on a contractual basis and free of charge as humanitarian aid, including through the United Nations Food Programme.

“I want to give assurances that our country is capable of replacing the Ukrainian grain both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis, especially as we expect another record harvest this year.

“Notwithstanding the sanctions, Russia will continue its energetic efforts to provide supplies of grain, food products, fertilizers and other goods to Africa.

“We highly value and will further develop the full spectrum of economic ties with Africa—with individual states as well as regional integration associations and, naturally, with the African Union.

“We welcome this organization’s strategic course towards further economic integration and the formation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“We are ready to build pragmatic, mutually beneficial relations, including within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.

“We are also willing to step up cooperation with other regional integration organizations on the continent.

“We stand for granting African countries their rightful place in the structures that determine the world’s fate, including the UN Security Council and the G20, as well as for reforming the global financial and trade institutions in a way that meets their interests,” Putin said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, who is currently in Rome, Italy, representing Nigeria at the United Nations Food Summit in Rome, will proceed to St. Petersburg, Russia, to attend the conference on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.

Also, a large Nigerian delegation from the government, private, and business sectors will participate in the summit.