FG Admits There’s Food Insecurity; Reveals Plan To Tackle Hunger

In an effort to address Nigeria’s current suffering and food insecurity, the Federal Government (FG) established the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU).

Vice President Kashim Shettima presided over the inauguration event on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, emphasising that the unit’s formation is part of the administration’s holistic hunger-reduction strategy.

The programme include working with state governments, development partners, and other key stakeholders to address rising commodity prices and widespread food insecurity across the country.

Vice President Shettima made it clear to the newly established unit—which is made up of governors, cabinet ministers, and representatives of development partners—that the PFSCU is not meant to take over the responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture. Rather, it seeks to address the pressing problem of food security by utilising the knowledge and assets of all parties involved.

Shettima emphasised that the PFSCU should concentrate on the Green Imperative Programme, an agricultural industrialization effort sponsored by the private sector and accelerated by the government.

He emphasised that Nigeria’s agricultural productivity could rise significantly with better fertiliser use, better seeds, and improved farming techniques.

He said; “The nation is facing a rare food security crisis and the sooner we come to terms with the reality, the better. 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.”

The PFSCU’s mission is to make sure that policies that improve food security and lessen the impact of high food prices on Nigerians are implemented in a coordinated manner.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli