President Bola Tinubu has directed a Federal Executive Council committee to act quickly and execute measures to significantly lower food prices across the country.
Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, the order focuses on guaranteeing the safe flow of agriculture products across transportation routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a federal executive council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has seen rising food insecurity since the elimination of fuel subsidies, high transportation costs, and insecurity on major highways hindered the transit of supplies.
Despite government initiatives, millions of people continue to struggle to buy food.
The minister stated that the strategy is linked to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty, which goes beyond availability to assure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back up this claim, he stated that the government plans to implement a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to increase production and a redesigned cooperative reform initiative to mobilize resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilization, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, titled “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges, and Responsibilities,” also included Senate Media Committee Chairman Senator Yemi Adaramodu, former presidential assistant Senator Ita Solomon Enang, and NILDS DG Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
Tinubu had stated in June that Nigeria is on track to achieve food sovereignty as a result of actions implemented by his administration.
Tinubu stated this in his Democracy Day speech at the National Assembly.
He said, “Our ‘Nigeria First’ policy will further enhance progress as we consolidate market-driven growth. The improved economic performance is encouraging and validates the soundness of our policy measures.
“Our medium-term growth target remains an economy growing at a seven percent clip with a stronger manufacturing base. We must learn to produce and grow most of our food, and we are on the path to achieving food sovereignty.”
