Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima during a high-level strategic meeting on climate change, titled “Climate Resilience and Food Security: Nigeria’s Vision for the Future,” has announced that the Federal Government is considering a commodity board to address food shortages in the country.
He said this at a climate change, food systems and resource mobilization held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja penultimate Tuesday where he underscored Nigeria’s commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change and ensuring food security for its citizens.
VP Shettima emphasized that food security was a top priority area declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under his Renewed Hope Agenda highlighting ongoing policy reforms aimed at revitalizing food supply through interventions such as fertilizer and grain distribution, fostering collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Water Resources for efficient farmland irrigation, and addressing price volatility through the establishment of a National Commodity Board.
In addition to immediate strategies, he said, government is focused on medium and long-term plans, including the restoration of degraded lands and the activation of land banks to increase arable land for farming.
Shettima reassured the public of the government’s commitment to protecting farmers and their farms, deploying security forces to ensure their safety.
He also highlighted collaborations with mechanization companies to clear forests for farming and the Central Bank’s role in funding the agricultural value chain.
During the event, AU Chairman of Food System, Dr. Ibrahim Maiyaki, emphasized the importance of regional integration, boosting productivity and economic growth through appropriate policies and governance objectives.
Overall, the meeting sought to galvanize efforts to transform Africa’s food systems and tackle the continent’s food security challenges in the coming years.