In a statement delivered by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President addressed the audience with a speech titled "Climate Resilience and Food Security: Nigeria’s Vision for the Future." The event, spanning two days, was highlighted as a testament to Nigeria's commitment to mitigating the impacts of climate change and ensuring food security for its citizens.

The statement, titled ‘Food Security: FG mulls commodity board to tackle price volatility, others,’ emphasized food security as one of the eight priority areas of the Tinubu presidency. The Vice President outlined ongoing policy reforms aimed at ensuring the availability and affordability of food and water. He detailed short-term strategies, including interventions such as the distribution of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households, fostering collaboration for efficient farmland irrigation, and addressing price volatility through the establishment of a National Commodity Board.

Furthermore, the Vice President revealed plans to restore four million hectares of degraded lands within the nation's borders as part of the AFR100 Initiative. He also assured participants of the government's commitment to protecting farmers and their farmlands from security challenges, as well as activating land banks to increase arable land for farming.

The Vice President highlighted collaborations with mechanization companies to clear more forests for farming and the Central Bank of Nigeria's role in funding the agricultural value chain. He emphasized the deployment of concessionary capital to the sector, particularly towards fertilizers, processing, mechanization, seeds, chemicals, equipment, and labor, to ensure food availability and affordability.

The Vice President reiterated the administration's focus on improving Nigeria's Human Capital Index and creating 5 to 10 million more jobs for the youth within the agriculture value chain. These efforts align with the FG's commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal Two of "Zero hunger" and the African Union Agenda 2063.

During the event, the National Coordinator of NEPAD, Mrs. Gloria Akobundu, emphasized the urgency of addressing the food shortage problem in Nigeria by mobilizing resources for smallholder farmers. Dr. Ibrahim Maiyaki, AU Chairman of Food System, called for regional integration and boosting productivity and economic growth rates through the right policies and governance objectives.

Dignitaries in attendance included Chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa, Senator Nasiru Zangondaura; Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Eze Emeka; representatives of the Governors of Bauchi, Edo, Delta, and Plateau States, as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Naijamatta is a social networking site,

download Naijamatta from Google play store or visit www.naijamatta.com to register. You can post, comment, do voice and video call, join and open group, go live etc. Join Naijamatta family, the Green app.