Presidency sets up committee to tackle food security crisis

The unit led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, includes several state governors, representatives from local governments, development partners, and other key stakeholders.

Its mandate is to oversee and harmonize all agricultural endeavors across Nigeria.

During the unit’s inauguration at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today, Shettima, acting on the directives of President Bola Tinubu, emphasized the urgent need for innovative solutions and collaborative efforts in light of the dire food security situation in the country.

His spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, quoted Shettima highlighting the gravity of the food security crisis and the need for a unified response.

“Food insecurity endangers the very basis of our democratic experiment and this is why all hands have to be on deck. We are in a food security crisis but it also provides us the opportunity to re-engineer and reposition the nation on a firmer footing”.

Acknowledging the critical nature of the situation, some state governors present at the meeting lauded the initiative as timely for addressing the current challenges.

The establishment of the unit follows a surge in food prices in Nigeria, with the inflation rate reaching 33.69 percent.

Various factors, such as insecurity in key agricultural regions plagued by armed unrest, have contributed to this concerning trend.

Roughly a year ago in a bid to tackle these issues, President Bola Tinubu had announced a food security emergency.

He underscored the necessity for close collaboration between the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources to ensure consistent irrigation of farmlands and continuous food production throughout the year.

Tinubu also committed to enhancing security measures to safeguard farms and farmers, allowing them to work without fear of attacks.