The Federal Government says it is strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to produce its own food and ensure citizens’ access to safe and nutritious meals.
By Ezra Musa
The Federal Government says it is strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to produce its own food and ensure citizens’ access to safe and nutritious meals.
Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, stated this on Monday in Kaduna while declaring open the Technical Session of the 47th National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS).
Ogunbiyi said the session would enable stakeholders to develop strategies for food sovereignty and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.
He said the theme, ‘Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope’, aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agriculture for economic recovery and transformation.
He described the technical session as the council’s “engine room,” where memoranda from states, partners, and the private sector were reviewed to guide national agricultural policy.
Ogunbiyi urged the delegates to focus on climate-smart agriculture, agribusiness expansion, digital innovation, and farmers’ welfare to strengthen productivity and sustainability across value chains.
“Our goal is simple to produce what we eat and ensure every household has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food,” he said.
The permanent secretary commended the support of partners including the FAO, IFAD, WFP, AfDB, World Bank, USAID, and IFPRI, toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 — Zero Hunger.
In his remarks, Murtala Dabo, Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, said the state was honoured to host the council and reaffirmed Kaduna’s position as a major agricultural hub.
He said Gov. Uba Sani’s administration had prioritised agriculture as a driver of economic growth, youth empowerment, and rural prosperity.
Also speaking, Mr Tanimu Ibrahim, Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, urged the delegates to develop actionable recommendations that would boost Nigeria’s food systems and support inclusive growth.
The four-day technical session will culminate in a Ministerial Session, where resolutions will be adopted to guide agricultural and food security policies nationwide.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)