Abuja: The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has praised the Federal Government for initiating a review of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition 2016 to 2025. Chief Emeka Obegolu, President of the ACCI, shared his views on the ongoing policy overhaul in Abuja, emphasizing the importance of the initiative for Nigeria’s economic resilience, food security, and human capital development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Obegolu highlighted the necessity of a robust, forward-looking food and nutrition framework. He stressed its significance not only for public health improvements but also for enhancing national productivity, strengthening agro-industrial value chains, and stimulating private sector growth. He pointed out that food and nutrition security are fundamental to economic stability and sustainable development.
Obegolu further elaborated on the need for a well-structured policy framework addressing current realities such as climate change, rising food costs, supply chain disruptions,
and demographic pressures. He emphasized that such a framework would greatly enhance the capacity of Nigerian businesses, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), to contribute meaningfully to national growth.
The proposed 10-year roadmap, spanning from 2026 to 2035, was described by Obegolu as a strategic opportunity to deepen private sector participation in food systems transformation, agribusiness innovation, food processing, storage, logistics, and nutrition-focused enterprises. He stressed the importance of the revised policy in creating an enabling environment for investment through policy coherence, fiscal incentives, improved access to finance, and strong public-private partnerships.
Obegolu underscored the business community’s readiness to collaborate with the government, development partners, and civil society to drive practical solutions ensuring affordable and nutritious food for all Nigerians while also stimulating enterprise development and job creation. He appreciated the consu
ltative approach adopted in the review process, noting that broad stakeholder engagement enhanced policy ownership, implementation effectiveness, and long-term sustainability.
Reaffirming the chamber’s commitment to supporting national efforts aimed at improving food systems and reducing malnutrition in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, Obegolu called for the deliberate inclusion of the dairy industry as a strategic pillar in the updated framework. He highlighted the critical role of the dairy sector in combating malnutrition, especially among children, women, and vulnerable populations, due to its high nutritional value and contribution to protein and micronutrient intake.
Despite Nigeria’s cattle population exceeding 20 million, Obegolu noted that over 60 percent of national dairy demand is currently met through imports due to low local productivity, weak value chains, inadequate infrastructure, and limited adoption of modern dairy practices. He emphasized the potential benefits of targeted policy suppor
t for the dairy industry, such as reducing import dependence, strengthening local production, creating jobs, and improving national nutrition outcomes.
Obegolu also welcomed the recent establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development as a timely institutional reform capable of improving sector coordination, addressing long-standing structural challenges, and strengthening livestock value chains. He suggested that a well-coordinated livestock policy framework could help address persistent farmer-herder conflicts that have disrupted agricultural production, displaced rural communities, and threatened food security in various parts of the country.
He concluded by highlighting the significance of strong collaboration with local government authorities and grassroots institutions to ensure effective policy implementation, as local governments are best positioned to translate national policy interventions into tangible community-level outcomes.