FG launches committee to cut food imports by 50%

Vice President Kashim Shettima launched the committee at the State House in Abuja, urging members to work toward slashing the country’s import bill by 50%.

He emphasized that the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to harnessing intellectual and financial resources to build a robust innovation-driven economy.

“This is more than just forming a committee. It’s about driving a bold vision—transforming Nigeria into a trillion-dollar, innovation-led economy within the next decade,” Shettima stated.

Outlining the committee’s terms of reference, the Vice President said it will focus on five key sectors with the potential to transform the nation:

“Agriculture and Climate Resilience, where research innovation must feed our people and protect our planet; Manufacturing Excellence, where we break our dependency on imports and build proudly Nigerian supply chains; Healthcare Innovation, where we shift from importing medicines to exporting medical breakthroughs; Natural Resource Optimisation, where we stop selling raw materials and start exporting ingenuity; and Energy Security, where we power our economy and secure our future.”

A core target, he said, is reducing the food import bill by half. “We’re not here to chase metrics alone—we want deliverables that make a difference. What will it take to reduce food imports by 50%? How can we triple local pharmaceutical production? We must align policy, research, and investment to answer these questions,” he added.

Senator Shettima also revealed that this committee lays the groundwork for a Presidential Plenary on Innovation, an annual event approved by President Tinubu.

The plenary will gather leaders from academia, research institutions, industry, civil society, and government to align innovation priorities—personally presided over by the President.

Speaking also the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, lauded the collaborative effort led by the Vice President.

He highlighted the importance of synergy among ministries and agencies to avoid duplication and maximize resources.

“We’ve been spending excessively by duplicating functions across ministries. This committee will foster collaboration, conserve resources, and strengthen innovation across critical sectors,” Nnaji noted.

Other key attendees included the Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Communications and Digital Economy, along with representatives from the Ministries of Education, Budget and Economic Planning, Foreign Affairs, and other committee members.