President Bola Tinubu has directed a Federal Executive Council committee to urgently take steps to bring down food prices in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, the president’s order is focused on cutting logistics costs by ensuring the safe passage of farm produce across transport routes.
“The President has given a matching order with a federal executive council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
He explained that the plan goes beyond just making food available, but also ensuring that it is affordable, accessible, and nutritious for Nigerians.
Nigeria has been struggling with high food prices caused by rising transport costs, the removal of fuel subsidy, and insecurity on major highways. Millions of citizens still find basic food items unaffordable despite government efforts.
Abdullahi further disclosed that the government will launch a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to improve productivity and introduce a new cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and support rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” the minister added.
The event, themed “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also had in attendance Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; former presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
Tinubu had earlier said during his Democracy Day speech in June that Nigeria is on course to achieving food sovereignty.
He said, “Our ‘Nigeria First’ policy will further enhance progress as we consolidate market-driven growth. The improved economic performance is encouraging and validates the soundness of our policy measures. We must learn to produce and grow most of our food, and we are on the path to achieving food sovereignty.”
