THE Federal Government has set up Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) to address Nigeria’s food security challenges and the escalating food prices.
Chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the committee comprise state governors, local government representatives, development partners, and other key stakeholders. Its mission is to streamline agricultural activities across the nation.
During the inauguration at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Vice President Shettima emphasized the urgency of the food security crisis, stressing the need for collaborative efforts from all sectors.
“The nation is facing a rare food security crisis and the sooner we come to terms with the reality, the better,” said Shettima, as conveyed by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha. “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.”
Several state governors at the event praised the initiative, recognizing it as a timely response to the country’s current food challenges.
This development follows the surge in food prices, with Nigeria’s inflation rate now at 33.69 percent. Stakeholders attribute the situation to various factors, including insecurity in key agricultural regions.
In response, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security about a year ago. He called for an urgent collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure year-round food production through adequate irrigation.
“There must be an urgent synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure adequate irrigation of farmlands and to guarantee that food is produced all year round,” Tinubu stated.
Additionally, the President vowed to engage the nation’s security forces to safeguard farms and farmers, enabling them to work without fear of attacks.
Eighteen-Eleven Media