FG Pledges to Boost Food Security for Improved Food Sector

…US govt investing over $67m to improve access to WASH

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Federal Government has pledged to boost food security while addressing flooding and other challenges facing the agro-sector in efforts to revive the food sector.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, remarked on the plans underway at the World Food Day 2023 organised by Hope For Life Initiative (HFLI) and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos.

According to Kyari, the challenges in the sector are not insurmountable. “It is the drive that propelled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare an emergency in food security to revive and secure the nation’s food and nutrition security.”

He also acknowledged the HFLI’s efforts at giving platforms that impact the less privileged in society with particular attention on women and children.

He said such impact perfectly aligns with particular attention to developing and empowering women and youth, especially in the agricultural value chain.

“The agricultural sector has significantly supported infrastructural development and socio-economic transformation for our rural communities.

“The agricultural sector occupies the driver’s seat in the quest to divest the economy from petroleum to the non-oil sectors,” says Kyari, represented by the Principal Vet Officer, Lagos, Dr. Awele Onaga.

The representative of the U.S. Consulate, Lagos, Brittany Orange, remarked that Nigeria’s success is important to the U.S.

She said its diplomatic presence in the nation is one of America’s largest and most dynamic missions in all of Africa.

“But critical to Nigeria’s success is water safety, food security, and sustainable economic development.

“As highlighted in today’s message, water is life. In Nigeria, the U.S. government recognises the importance of water access for consumption and agricultural use,” says Orange.

Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), she added that the U.S. government is investing over $67m to foster closer coordination with federal and state government agencies to improve access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.

“This includes a Memorandum of Understanding signed by USAID and the Lagos State Government, the first step towards enhancing urban water service delivery in Lagos State.

“The Feed the Future Water for Agriculture activity, supported by USAID, has increased access to water for almost 55,000 farmers and herders in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States. It has resulted in over 1,600 farmers adopting improved agriculture production practices.”

She, therefore, described Nigeria’s agriculture sector as critical to the nation’s economic development and access to food.

The Keynote Speaker and DG of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, stressed the significance of water to human existence.

While arguing that there will be no food without water, Osaghae urged stakeholders to prioritise water policy and planning, especially in the agricultural sector.

The DG of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, implored food handlers to follow the rules of good hygiene and food safety at every stage of food handling.

While commending the event organisers, the DG represented by an Assistant Director, Makanju Olajumoke, implored the government, industry, regulators and the public to ensure the reduction or total elimination of unsafe food within the food system.

Speaking, the Founder and Executive Director of HFLI, Kendi Aig-Imoru, said the event highlighted the plight of 2.4 billion people in water-stressed countries and 600 million reliant on aquatic food systems facing pollution, ecosystem degradation, and climate change impacts.

Thus, she noted that the event would serve as a rallying point for governments, businesses, civil society organisations, and the public to collectively combat hunger and raise awareness about the profound impact of responsible water management in agrifood systems.

“Food is everything to everyone. We plant, we grow and we harvest. When we harvest, we eat and of course we earn money.

“At the Hope for Life Initiative, what we are doing is a food revolution. Let’s begin to recalibrate for sustainability and inclusion in the food revolution.

“To achieve an important goal of food security, food is everything, food is life, food is a gift, food is our gift,” she recommended.