Food security remains top national priority – FG
The Federal Government has reiterated that food security remains a key national priority, restating its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s agricultural sector in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated this on Wednesday in Osogbo during the distribution of farm inputs to smallholder farmers. Represented by Ayodele Olawumi, Director of Agricultural Extension in the ministry, Kyari said the government is pursuing wide-ranging reforms aimed at boosting productivity, creating jobs, and lowering the cost of living.
He added that alongside these economic reforms, the government has also launched targeted humanitarian initiatives and emergency response measures to mitigate the effects of the ongoing food crisis nationwide.
“President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated unwavering political will and commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agriculture sector, with food security positioned as one of the central pillars of his administration’s priorities,” Kyari said.
He explained that since 2023, the Federal Government has conducted a thorough review of existing agricultural programmes to identify necessary changes and ensure alignment with the ministry’s core mandates. This, he added, has led to the rollout of several projects aimed at tackling farmers’ challenges while ensuring that food remains available, accessible, and affordable to all Nigerians.
The minister said the distribution of farm inputs fulfills President Tinubu’s promise to support farmers and encourage food production, describing it as part of a broader effort to increase national food output and stabilize prices.
“The ultimate goal of every nation is to attain food security, a global priority underscored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Kyari said. “This administration remains resolute in its commitment to developing the agricultural sector in alignment with the SDGs.”
Kyari urged beneficiaries to view the initiative as a reflection of the government’s dedication to their welfare and to reciprocate by boosting productivity and contributing to national food stability.
In his remarks, Taiwo Aiyegoro, the state coordinator of the ministry, said the initiative demonstrates the Federal Government’s ongoing support for smallholder farmers, describing them as the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
