In a strong call for practical solutions, Vice President Kashim Shettima urged the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to implement its food security strategies beyond mere rhetoric. Speaking at the PFSCU’s second meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima emphasized the importance of moving beyond traditional crop production to include livestock and fisheries, particularly in the South-South and South East regions.
The PFSCU, established by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to tackle Nigeria’s hunger crisis, has a crucial role in achieving food security, Shettima noted, highlighting that past initiatives have often fallen short at the implementation stage. “We have to walk the talk,” he said, calling for the private sector’s active involvement and urging Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari to lead the process. Shettima also advocated for urban agriculture, citing successes in countries like Cuba, and underscored the need to support both small and large agricultural enterprises, with specific reference to improved loan access through credit guarantee schemes.
Key state governors attending the meeting echoed Shettima’s sentiments, with Borno’s Governor Babagana Zulum pushing for improved federal-state collaboration to address agricultural challenges, which he identified as critical to ensuring both the quantity and quality of food in Nigeria. Meanwhile, Cross River’s Governor Bassey Otu expressed optimism in his state’s capacity to contribute significantly to the nation’s food supply, projecting major improvements within two years.
Several governors emphasized the urgent need for action. Ekiti’s Governor Biodun Oyebanji stressed the time-sensitive nature of agricultural work, while Ebonyi’s Governor Francis Nwifuru called for practical, hands-on leadership in agriculture, saying that visible efforts would encourage youth involvement.
Minister Kyari highlighted the persistent issue of agricultural goods being smuggled out of Nigeria, a trend he assured the government was working to counter. Marion Moon, Technical Assistant on Agriculture in the Office of the Vice-President, noted that the PFSCU is addressing Nigeria’s food crisis both by managing immediate shortages and by planning long-term strategies aimed at leveraging the nation’s agricultural advantages.
