Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that achieving food sovereignty is a core objective for Nigeria.
Shetima, who spoke at the UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, stated that true national independence is incomplete without it.
Shettima called for strengthened global collaboration to build resilient and inclusive food systems across Africa.
He outlined President Bola Tinubu’s comprehensive strategy to tackle food security challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas.
He highlighted that Tinubu’s administration, which took office in 2023 facing a fragile food system exacerbated by insecurity, climate shocks, and inflation, has since declared a state of emergency on food security.
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This bold move, Shettima explained, is part of systemic reforms designed to transform agriculture into a robust, youth-driven, market-oriented engine for economic growth.
“Our target is to attain food sovereignty. So long as a nation is not independent in the area of food sovereignty, it remains a non-sovereign nation,” Shettima declared.
He clarified that the state of emergency was not a sign of fear, but a genuine concern for the welfare of Nigerians, especially in regions like the Northeast, where the activities of Boko Haram have caused significant disruption.
Shettima detailed the government’s coordinated policy responses to support the 25 million vulnerable people in fragile regions.
These include the establishment of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to harmonise all food security interventions, rather than replace existing bodies.
While acknowledging the initiation of food support mechanisms in the North East and North West, he stressed a shift from direct aid to sustainable empowerment.
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“In Africa, we say that when you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach him to fish, you empower him for life,” he said.
He emphasised efforts to encourage food production in displaced persons’ camps for dignity and resilience.
Shettima further underscored that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation strategy must be market-driven, powered by entrepreneurship and innovation.
“Our belief is that agriculture should be market-driven. The whole mantra is about increasing yields. Entrepreneurial capitalism is embedded in the psyche of the average Nigerian,” he stated.
To achieve this, he said the government is investing in improved seeds, enhanced extension services to provide farmers with up-to-date information on rainfall patterns and climate shock management, climate-resilient farming practices, and mechanisation.
International support for key initiatives
On the sidelines of the summit, Shettima engaged in high-level bilateral discussions with the heads of leading global food and development organisations.
He met with Dr QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); Álvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); and Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).
During his meeting with the FAO Director-General, Shettima sought partnership for the revitalisation of the Lake Chad region, advocating for support for year-round farming and the Federal Government’s Green Revolution Project.
He highlighted the multidimensional challenges threatening Lake Chad, including environmental degradation, climate change, humanitarian crises, and conflict.
He stressed the need for a multi-pronged approach that includes development, conflict resolution, regional cooperation, and large-scale infrastructure.
Shettima urged FAO to play a pivotal role in the region’s recovery given its immense agricultural potential.
Dongyu commended the Tinubu administration’s political will and pledged enhanced FAO partnership and technical support.
In his discussions with Lario, Shettima reiterated the administration’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers, particularly youth and women, by improving their access to finance, mechanisation, and modern inputs.
“We are focusing on increased productivity, resilience, and commercialisation, not handouts,” Shettima noted, adding that Nigeria plans to scale up existing IFAD-supported projects to benefit more rural communities.
Shettima also met with WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, acknowledging the organisation’s long-standing humanitarian interventions in Nigeria.
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He reiterated the government’s strategic shift towards sustainable solutions.
McCain, in turn, affirmed WFP’s continued collaboration with the Nigerian government in areas such as school feeding, nutrition programs, and support for displaced communities.
