Abuja: Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to move beyond rhetoric and focus on delivering tangible results in the government’s efforts to ensure food security in Nigeria. He emphasized that citizens are more interested in seeing concrete outcomes rather than mere discussions.
According to Voice of Nigeria, VP Shettima made these remarks during the second meeting of the PFSCU, an initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at addressing hunger and hardship in the nation. The Vice President highlighted the importance of implementation, noting that the PFSCU is uniquely positioned to transform the nation’s food security challenges into progress. The PFSCU was inaugurated in July of this year under the Presidential Economic Coordinating Council, following a recommendation to President Tinubu highlighting the need for a food systems council to tackle food insecurity.
Addressing participants, including state representatives, developme
nt partners, and other key stakeholders, VP Shettima urged the PFSCU to expand its focus beyond rural farming. He advocated for the initiation of urban agriculture practices similar to those in countries like Cuba and other advanced nations. He stressed the necessity of engaging the private sector and called on the Minister of Agriculture to lead this process.
The Vice President also expressed hope that the PFSCU would play a pivotal role in securing food for Nigeria by leveraging the expertise and connections of prominent figures in the nation’s private sector. He encouraged the unit to explore other agricultural areas, such as livestock and fishery, especially in regions like the South-South and the South East.
Additionally, VP Shettima tasked the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, with devising solutions to improve access to loans from credit guarantee schemes, emphasizing the need for support across the entire agricultural sector, including major players.
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ier, state governors present at the meeting highlighted the necessity for a fundamental change in the country’s approach to food security, advocating for enhanced coordination between federal and state governments. Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, pointed out critical gaps in the current agricultural framework and stressed the importance of both food quality and quantity. He identified the fisheries and livestock sectors as ‘a missing link’ in current agricultural policies.
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced that the state is already taking significant steps to ensure food security, with ambitions to feed the nation in the coming years. Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, emphasized the need for immediate action to address implementation challenges, while Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, advocated for practical demonstrations over theoretical discussions in tackling food insecurity.
Minister of Finance Mr. Wale Edun, speaking at the meeting, aligned with partners and stake
holders on the importance of support from credit guarantee schemes. He emphasized the necessity of establishing a financing program to aid farmers and other agricultural stakeholders, referencing the roles of the Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industry.
Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, also highlighted the issue of agricultural produce being smuggled out of the country, which affects local supply. He assured attendees that the government is actively working to resolve this challenge.