Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged global collaboration with Nigeria to build sustainable and inclusive food systems across Africa, emphasizing that food sovereignty is crucial for true national sovereignty.
He made these remarks at the UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during a panel discussion on government-led strategies and regional frameworks.
While acknowledging the initiation of food support mechanisms in the North East and North West, Shettima stressed that charity alone is not the answer. He referenced the African proverb, “when you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach him to fish, you empower him for life,” indicating a focus on long-term empowerment through food production in displaced persons’ camps for dignity and resilience.
Shettima highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s comprehensive strategy to tackle food security challenges, particularly those affecting vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas.
The Tinubu administration inherited a fragile food system exacerbated by insecurity, climate shocks, and inflationary pressures.
President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security and initiated systemic reforms aimed at transforming agriculture into a resilient, youth-driven, market-based engine of economic growth.
Shettima asserted that this declaration was driven by a genuine concern for the welfare of Nigerians, especially in conflict-ridden regions like the North East, which has been severely impacted by insurgency.
With an estimated 25 million vulnerable people in fragile regions, the government has adopted coordinated policy measures, including the establishment of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU).
This unit’s purpose is to harmonize all food security interventions without displacing existing institutions.
The Vice President underlined that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation strategy must be marketdriven, powered by entrepreneurship and innovation. He stated that the government is investing in improved seeds, extension services, climate-resilient farming, and mechanization to increase yields and provide farmers with up-to-date information on rainfall patterns and climate shock management.
