Shettima: FG to Partner IITA to Boost Food Security

•Says Tinubu ready to reposition nation

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima has assured the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) of the federal government’s partnership towards ensuring food security in the country.

Shettima gave the assurance yesterday, when he received in audience the IITA delegation led by the Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, Simeon Ehui, at the State House, Abuja.

According to him, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration would give all the necessary support and assistance to ensure food security and enhance agricultural practice that would produce enough food for the citizenry.

He said: “There has to be a paradigm shift.  Our agricultural output is low as compared to our size of population and even the unfriendly environmental factors. So, this is a time of change and I want to give you the guarantee that my boss is with you and he will solidly support you to execute your mandate.

“My boss, President Bola Tinubu is a man of courage and conviction and he has determined to reposition the nation more than ever before.”

While commending the IITA team for the many successes they have recorded in the agriculture sector in the West African region, Shettima praised IITA for doing well in the production of certain agricultural produce such as “cassava, yam and soya beans”.

He stated further that IITA has an iconic presence in Nigeria, in Ibadan and West Africa and as such reasoned that the country must maximise the benefits which the institution can bring to bear on the agriculture sector in the country.

According to him, “Your own mantra is about the increase in agricultural yield and what tools can be used to improve such yield; ensure seed quality and availability, sound agricultural practices, fertilizer, and most importantly market accessibility.

“These are not rocket science, these are real and of course, if we can have very sound and environmentally friendly irrigation mechanism that will enhance our farm outputs, we can achieve our objectives”

Shettima lauded the institution for its reputation and international best practices, noting that the “Federal Government can effortlessly do business with you.  So, I want to give you my candid assurance that by my training, by my inclination as an agricultural economist and as a banker by profession, we can definitely engage with you.”

Earlier in his speech, the Director-General, Simeon Ehui, thanked the federal government for the support to IITA over the years, disclosing that it has expanded across many states in the country.

He expressed the readiness of IITA to partner with the Tinubu administration, adding that so much needs to be done in Nigeria.