Food security: We must back talk with action — Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has stressed the need to “walk the talk” in the ongoing bid to ensure food security in Nigeria, stating that Nigerians are more interested in results than in rhetoric.

He has implored the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to lead the charge.

Shettima observed that while there have been many presidential initiatives, the challenge has always been implementation. He stated that the PFSCU is in a favorable position to transform the nation’s food security challenges into progress.

He made these remarks on Thursday during the second meeting of the PFSCU, which was constituted as part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to tackle hunger and hardship in Nigeria.

A statement from his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, recalled that the Vice President inaugurated the PFSCU in July this year under the Presidential Economic Coordinating Council, following a memo submitted to President Tinubu highlighting the need for a food systems council to address food insecurity in the country.

During the second meeting of the PFSCU, which included states, development partners, and other critical stakeholders, Shettima urged the unit to move beyond rural farming and initiate urban agriculture, similar to practices in countries like Cuba and other advanced nations.

He said: “We have to walk the talk. I will be in Calabar, and we will go to northern Cross River to flag off the wet season farming. Nigerians want to see what we are doing. Hon. Minister, I want you to engage the private sector robustly. I want the Hon. Minister of Agriculture to drive the process.

“So, let’s walk the talk. This presidential initiative is very promising, but we have had many presidential initiatives in the past. It’s the implementation that counts, and we are in a unique position to convert our challenges into progress.”

Expressing hope that the PFSCU will provide food security in Nigeria, Shettima mentioned that the unit comprises some of the leading figures in the nation’s private sector, whose experience, exposure, and contacts must be leveraged to drive the process.

He also urged the PFSCU to expand its focus beyond crop production to include other areas of agriculture, such as livestock and fisheries.

“There is a need for diversity. Livestock and fisheries are areas I want you to consider, especially concerning the South-South and South East regions.”

The Vice President charged the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, to propose solutions to issues related to access to loans from credit guarantee schemes, emphasizing that the entire agriculture sector deserves support, including large-scale players.

Earlier, state governors present at the meeting called for a fundamental shift in the country’s approach to food security, emphasizing the need for better coordination between federal and state governments.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum highlighted critical gaps in the current agricultural framework, stating, “There is a very wrong perception in Nigeria about food security—it’s not just about food quantity but also quality.”

“A nation will not be secure if the quality of food is lacking. What we are facing now is not just about quantity but also about the quality of food products,” Zulum stated.

The governor stressed the importance of the fisheries and livestock sectors, calling them “a missing link” in current agricultural policies.

“There is a need for synergy with state governments—we have significant capacity at the state level,” he emphasized.

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu noted that the state is already taking decisive action to ensure food security.

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“Our target is to feed the nation. Give us two more years, and Cross River will be transformed,” he said.

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji focused on implementation challenges, calling for immediate action.

“Agriculture is time-sensitive, and we need to implement these plans immediately,” he insisted, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement and state-level input in policy formation.

Furthermore, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru advocated for practical demonstration over theoretical discussion in tackling food insecurity.

“Agriculture doesn’t require so much talking; it needs practicality. When the youths see us, the leaders, on our farms, they will be more willing to join us,” Nwifuru stated.

Also speaking at the meeting, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Mr. Wale Edun agreed with partners and stakeholders on the need for support from credit guarantee schemes and stressed the importance of a financing program to assist farmers and other stakeholders.

“We should sit down and design a financing program. We have the Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industry,” Edun noted.

For his part, Minister of Agriculture Senator Abubakar Kyari highlighted the challenge of agricultural produce being smuggled out of the country, negatively impacting local supply. He assured that the government is actively working to address this issue.

In her presentation, the Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture (Office of the Vice President), Marion Moon, pointed out that the PFSCU is working toward mitigating and stabilizing the symptoms of the food crisis in Nigeria.

She stated, “We are doing this because we want to start addressing the underlying issues. Our long-term vision and plan are to strengthen Nigeria’s comparative advantage.”