FG Reassures Farmers Of Support To Boost Food Security

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to placing Nigerian farmers at the centre of the country’s food-security and domestic-production drive, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a more productive, resilient and food-secure country.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, chairman of the Steering Committee of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), led the 7th meeting of the committee at the State House, Abuja, on Friday, bringing together governors, ministers, the private sector and development partners to review Nigeria’s food-systems outlook and strengthen coordination around priority areas requiring action.

With the main harvest period presenting an important opportunity, the discussions focused on supporting farmers and domestic production, improving the movement of food from producing areas to consumers, strengthening strategic reserves and ensuring that government interventions are directed to where they can have the greatest impact.

Shettima emphasised that under President Tinubu’s leadership, the government would continue to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to produce more of its own food while ensuring that Nigerian families have access to food at affordable prices.

He stressed the importance of coordinated action across Federal and State Governments, the private sector and relevant institutions to translate that vision into measurable results.

The Committee also examined the role of transportation, logistics, levies, market access and other distribution factors in determining the final cost of food, underscoring the need to improve the efficiency with which food moves between producing and consuming areas.

According to PFSCU Executive Secretary, Ms Marion Moon: “Our focus is to ensure that the Government has the evidence to act early and precisely – supporting farmers, improving the movement of food, strengthening preparedness and directing interventions to where they can make the greatest difference.”

Speaking from the perspective of producing States, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State emphasised the importance of keeping farmers at the centre of agricultural policy through continued attention to irrigation, inputs, financing, production support and access to markets. He also highlighted the value of stronger Federal–State coordination in ensuring that national interventions respond effectively to realities on the ground.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy stressed the need to align domestic production and trade policy so that they reinforce one another. The Committee noted that trade measures can complement domestic production and help address verified supply gaps, but should be considered alongside strategic reserves, market conditions and the need to sustain incentives for Nigerian farmers and agribusinesses.

The meeting further considered the stability and resilience of Nigeria’s food system, with emphasis on using better intelligence to identify where production, market, nutrition or security pressures are emerging. Relevant institutions are expected to increasingly target interventions to the States, markets and communities where the evidence indicates the greatest need.

The Committee also reviewed progress across major food-systems initiatives. These include the US$500 million Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth programme (AGROW), whose PFSCU design and coordination phase has been completed and transitioned to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and participating States; the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism; development of the National Agro-Productivity System; and the National Food and Nutrition Crisis Preparedness Framework anchored in the Office of the National Security Adviser.

These initiatives are strengthening the Government’s ability to understand what farmers intend to produce, monitor in-season production, anticipate emerging risks and improve coordination across Federal and State interventions.

Vice President Shettima called for stronger visibility and accountability across ongoing interventions, with greater emphasis on ensuring that available resources translate into tangible outcomes for farmers, markets and Nigerian households.

The PFSCU Steering Committee provides a national platform for coordinating Federal, State and Local Government action with the private sector, security institutions and development partners across Nigeria’s food system.