Vice President Kashim Shettima has demanded greater accountability in the Federal Government’s food security interventions, saying public resources must translate into tangible outcomes for farmers, markets and Nigerian households.
The Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday following the seventh meeting of its Steering Committee, chaired by Shettima at the State House, Abuja, on Friday.
The meeting brought together governors, federal ministers, private sector representatives and development partners to review Nigeria’s food systems outlook and coordinate action on domestic production and food availability.
According to the PFSCU, Shettima “called for stronger visibility and accountability across ongoing interventions,” with greater emphasis on ensuring that available resources deliver tangible outcomes.
The Vice President also called for increased domestic food production alongside measures to make food more affordable for Nigerians.
He stressed the importance of coordinated action among the Federal and state governments, the private sector and relevant institutions to translate President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda into measurable results.
With the main harvest period approaching, the committee considered measures to support farmers and domestic production, improve the movement of food from producing areas to consumers and strengthen strategic reserves.
It also examined transportation, logistics, levies, market access and other distribution factors affecting the final cost of food.
The committee said improving the efficiency of food movement between producing and consuming areas was necessary to address pressures within the food supply chain.
The PFSCU Executive Secretary, Marion Moon, said the government would increasingly rely on evidence to determine where interventions were needed.
“Our focus is to ensure that the Government has the evidence to act early and precisely – supporting farmers, improving the movement of food, strengthening preparedness and directing interventions to where they can make the greatest difference,” Moon said.
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, called for farmers to remain at the centre of agricultural policies, highlighting irrigation, inputs, financing, production support and market access as priority areas.
He also advocated stronger Federal-State coordination to ensure national interventions respond to conditions confronting farmers at the state level.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy stressed the need to align domestic production with trade policy.
