- President Tinubu directs urgent action to reduce food prices nationwide.
- Plans include ensuring safe transportation of farm produce and boosting rural farming.
- New cooperative and soil health schemes to support farmers and improve food production.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a special committee of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to immediately roll out measures aimed at reducing food prices across the country.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that it was disclosed by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, during a capacity-building event for Senate correspondents held in Abuja on Wednesday.
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Abdullahi explained that the President’s directive includes facilitating the smooth and secure movement of agricultural produce across the country. He noted that addressing logistics challenges is key to lowering the cost of food.
According to him, “The President has given a clear instruction through the FEC to urgently work out how we can guarantee the safe movement of food items across the country to ease the burden of transportation and reduce food costs.”
Nigeria has witnessed a steady rise in food prices following the removal of fuel subsidy, compounded by high transportation costs and insecurity affecting major supply routes. These issues have continued to hinder the movement of goods and drive up prices, making food unaffordable for many households.
The Minister emphasised that the new push aligns with President Tinubu’s broader agenda to attain food sovereignty not just in terms of food availability, but also in affordability, accessibility, and nutritional value.
To support this goal, the government plans to launch a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. In addition, a revamped cooperative reform will be introduced to empower rural farmers through access to resources and economic opportunities.
“President Tinubu strongly believes in the power of cooperatives as engines of resource mobilisation, economic development, and livelihood improvement,” Abdullahi added.
Also present at the event were the Chairman of the Senate Media Committee, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; former presidential adviser, Senator Ita Enang; and the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman.
In a Democracy Day speech earlier in June, President Tinubu had reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency. He stated that with the right policies in place, Nigeria was “on track” to feed itself and grow its economy through agriculture and manufacturing.
He added, “We are pursuing a ‘Nigeria First’ policy that prioritises local production. Our economy is showing positive signs, and this validates our policy choices. Our medium-term target is to grow the economy by 7% with a solid base in manufacturing and agriculture.”
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