The Nigerian government has launched the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) to tackle the country’s growing food insecurity).
Vice President Kashim Shettima led the inauguration ceremony on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, emphasizing the Tinubu administration’s commitment to curbing hunger.
The PFSCU’s establishment comes as part of a broader strategy to collaborate with state governments, development partners, and other key stakeholders to combat the rising prices of commodities and widespread food insecurity.
Addressing the members and stakeholders at the event, Vice President Shettima underscored the urgency of the situation.
“The nation is facing a rare food security crisis and the sooner we come to terms with the reality, the better,” Shettima stated. “Food insecurity endangers the very basis of our democratic experiment and this is why all hands have to be on deck. We are in a food security crisis but it also provides us the opportunity to re-engineer and reposition the nation on a firmer footing.”
Shettima clarified that the PFSCU was not established to override the Ministry of Agriculture’s functions but to complement and enhance efforts through the inclusion of diverse ideas and resources from all stakeholders.
During the inauguration, various governors on the committee presented their plans to modernize agricultural practices, boost crop yields, and transform Nigeria into a self-sufficient food producer.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River highlighted his state’s commitment to modernizing agriculture to meet the nation’s food needs. “We are an agrarian state, and we have stepped up our game,” he said.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, stressed the necessity for a coordinated approach, pointing out low productivity and rapid population growth as significant challenges.
He called for increased investment in commercial agriculture, better funding, and enhanced security for farmers.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, proposed his state as a pilot for the President’s food security initiative, noting substantial investments in agricultural mechanization, including 5,000 tractors and twenty pilot irrigation systems.