President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on food security in Nigeria. The announcement came after a meeting with agricultural stakeholders, who discussed the rising cost of food and the need to boost domestic production.
Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after consultations with key stakeholders in the agricultural sector at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said that the President has directed an immediate release of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal. According to him, “We will immediately release fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal. “There will be an organic synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the use of water resources to ensure adequate irrigation of farmlands and to guarantee that food is available all years round. “As a country, Mr. President has made it clear that we are no longer comfortable with seasonal farming. We can no longer afford to have farming downtime.”
Under the state of emergency, the government will take a number of immediate steps to increase food availability and affordability. These include:
- Releasing fertilizers and grains to farmers and households
- Creating a national commodity board to monitor food prices
- Engaging security forces to protect farmers and farmlands
- Activating land banks to increase the availability of arable land
- Mechanizing agriculture and clearing forests for farming
- Providing concessionary funding for the agricultural sector
- Reducing the cost of transporting agricultural products
- Revamping existing warehouses and tanks for food storage, and
- The government also plans to stimulate the export capacity of the agricultural sector.
Tinubu said that the state of emergency on food security is a necessary step to ensure that all Nigerians have access to affordable food. He added that the government is committed to working with stakeholders to address the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
The announcement of the state of emergency on food security was welcomed by agricultural stakeholders. They said that the government’s intervention is needed to address the rising cost of food and boost domestic production.
The state of emergency on food security is a significant step by the Nigerian government. It shows that the government is taking the issue of food security seriously and is committed to finding solutions.
The government’s intervention is also a welcome relief for many Nigerians who are struggling to afford food. The hope is that the government’s measures will help to reduce the cost of food and make it more affordable for everyone.
