Tinubu Declares State Of Emergency On Food Security

Tinubu Declares State Of Emergency On Food Security

President Bola Tinubu has taken action to address the issue of food security in Nigeria by declaring a state of emergency.

This declaration was made by the President’s spokesman, Dele Alake, during a briefing with State House correspondents.

The President has instructed that matters related to food and water availability and affordability, which are essential for livelihood, be included within the scope of the National Security Council.

This directive aligns with the Tinubu administration’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable members of society.

The rising cost of food and its impact on the citizens’ pockets have not gone unnoticed by the President. In response, he has directed the immediate release of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households as a measure to alleviate the effects of subsidy removal.

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The President emphasized the need for collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure proper irrigation of farmlands and year-round food production.

To address fluctuating food prices, the President announced the establishment of a National Commodity Board that will review and monitor food prices.

This board will also maintain a strategic food reserve to stabilize the prices of critical grains and other food items. Various stakeholders, including the National Commodity Exchange, seed companies, research institutes, and agricultural associations, will be involved in supporting the President’s intervention efforts.

The President also emphasized the importance of protecting farms and farmers by engaging the country’s security architecture.

The President highlighted the continued role of the Central Bank of Nigeria in funding the agricultural value chain.

Additionally, efforts are underway to map 500,000 hectares of land to increase the availability of arable land for farming.

Tinubu emphasized the need to boost revenue from food and agricultural exports as part of the broader strategy to enhance food security in the country.