Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that Nigeria has shifted its perspective on food security, recognizing it as a significant macroeconomic, security, and governance matter rather than merely an agricultural one, while unveiling a comprehensive strategy at Davos.
During a high-profile panel discussion titled "When Food Becomes Security" at the Congress Centre on Thursday, as part of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Shettima announced that the Federal Government has initiated a multidimensional agricultural strategy. This aims to shield the nation from global disruptions and to rejuvenate productivity in crucial food production areas.
"In Nigeria, we consider food security not solely as an agricultural problem. It encompasses macroeconomic factors, security, and governance," the Vice President remarked. "We intend to position food security as a foundational element for national security, regional stability, and cohesion."
He elaborated that Nigeria's approach to food security relies on three fundamental pillars: enhancing food production, ensuring environmental sustainability, and promoting deeper regional collaboration within West Africa.
As global supply chain issues and climate-related challenges have necessitated the strengthening of Nigeria's agricultural framework, the country aims to create robust food systems tailored to its varying ecological conditions.
"Given the vastness of Nigeria, there exists a profound connection between our economy and ecology," Shettima commented. "In the northern Sahel region, we face challenges like desertification, deforestation, and drought, while the riverine southern areas, along with parts of North Central, struggle with flooding."
To tackle these environmental issues, the government is advocating for the cultivation of drought-resistant, flood-tolerant, and fast-maturing crop varieties such as rice, sorghum, and millet, along with restructuring food systems in flood-risk areas to better endure climate variability.
Security challenges remain a significant hurdle for food production, as many regions troubled by conflict constitute Nigeria's primary agricultural zones.
"Thus, we are establishing food security corridors and strengthening community-based security initiatives to ensure that farmers can safely return to their lands," he noted.
Shettima revealed that the Federal Government has implemented the Back to the Farm Initiative, aimed at rehabilitating displaced farmers by providing agricultural resources, insurance, and financial support to facilitate their return to production.
Addressing the macroeconomic pressures, he pointed out that excessive reliance on imports and fluctuations in foreign exchange have been significant contributors to food price inflation.
"Our nation imports wheat, sugar, and dairy products, which directly influence inflation rates. Our strategy focuses on boosting domestic production and encouraging alternatives like sorghum, millet, and cassava flour to rectify these structural issues," he added.
He further articulated that Nigeria's food security framework intertwines agriculture with national stability, inflation management, and regional cooperation, positioning it as a proactive response to economic and security threats.
Shettima called upon African nations to enhance collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing that intra-African trade is imperative in light of shifting global dynamics.
He expressed hope that the ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would soon lead to scalable investments for smallholder farmers and fishermen, promoting better climate resilience and an increase in intra-African trade.
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