“FG Declares Food Security Nigeria’s Top Priority, Launches New Agricultural Reforms”

The Federal Government has reaffirmed that ensuring food security remains a top national priority as part of its long-term economic and development agenda.

According to Ireporter Online, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made this known on Wednesday in Osogbo during the distribution of farm inputs to smallholder farmers. Represented by Mr. Ayodele Olawumi, Director of Agricultural Extension in the ministry, Kyari noted that the government remains steadfast in its mission to develop the agricultural sector in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The minister explained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had initiated wide-ranging economic reforms aimed at tackling challenges affecting food production, stimulating productivity, creating jobs, and lowering the cost of living. In addition to these reforms, he said targeted humanitarian interventions and emergency relief programmes have been rolled out to cushion the impact of the ongoing food crisis.

Kyari emphasized that President Tinubu has shown unwavering political will to transform the agriculture sector, with food security serving as a cornerstone of his administration’s priorities. He revealed that since 2023, the government has conducted an extensive review of existing programmes to determine areas for improvement and better alignment with the ministry’s core mandate.

“In line with this vision, the ministry has introduced several initiatives designed to support farmers, enhance productivity, and ensure that food remains available, accessible, and affordable to all Nigerians,” he stated.

Kyari said the distribution of farm inputs fulfills President Tinubu’s promise to ease the economic hardship faced by farmers and to sustain food production across the nation. He described the initiative as part of a broader strategy to boost national food output and stabilize market prices.

He reiterated that achieving food security is the ultimate goal of every nation and a critical objective outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The minister urged beneficiaries to view the gesture as a testament to the government’s commitment to their welfare and to reciprocate by improving productivity for national benefit.

Also speaking, Mr. Taiwo Aiyegoro, the state Coordinator of the ministry, stated that the distribution exercise reflected the Federal Government’s enduring dedication to empowering smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural system.

In his remarks, the Osun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Tola Faseru, represented by Mr. Moshood Adepoju, commended the Federal Government for extending its support to the state’s farmers, stressing that the intervention would strengthen efforts toward achieving food self-sufficiency.

Similarly, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Wahaab Bello, lauded the Federal Government’s intervention but urged the restoration of extension services to further assist farmers in improving productivity.

Reports indicate that the distributed inputs included fertilizers, chemicals, grinders, and seedlings, among other essential agricultural materials.