VP Shettima Explains Tinubu’s State of Emergency on Agriculture at UN Summit

Vice President Kashim Shettima has shed light on President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on agriculture, highlighting the administration’s commitment to addressing food insecurity in Nigeria.

Speaking at the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Shettima emphasized the need for collective action to tackle the pressing issue.

Key Points from Shettima’s Address

• Reasons for Declaration: The state of emergency was declared due to the alarming state of food security in Nigeria, particularly in conflict-driven environments like the North-East where Boko Haram is active.
• Agricultural Drive: Nigeria is scaling up its agricultural drive with modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), geospatial analytics, and satellite-driven climate intelligence to enhance food production.
• Presidential Initiative: The Presidential Initiative on Food Security aims to upscale the cultivation of vital staples like maize, rice, cassava, and wheat, ensuring a future anchored in abundance, equity, and human dignity.
• Collaboration: Shettima applauded the World Food Programme and other multilateral agencies for their support, highlighting the importance of partnerships in addressing food insecurity.

Global Call to Action

The UN summit emphasizes the need for collective action to combat food insecurity, with African nations and the UN calling for predictable concession finance to invest in agriculture, rural transformation, infrastructure, and literacy. Climate finance must also be aligned with the food system to ensure effective solutions.