Nigeria is facing a serious challenge of feeding its growing population, as millions of people are at risk of hunger due to conflict, climate change, inflation and rising food prices.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation, as it has disrupted the food value chain and affected the livelihoods of farmers and consumers.

To address this urgent issue, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, July 13, declared a state of emergency on food security and announced a series of interventions to boost food production and distribution, as well as to stabilize food prices and create jobs.

Today, we declared a state of emergency and unveiled a comprehensive intervention plan on food security, affordability, and sustainability, taking decisive action to tackle food inflation. These are steps towards a more food secure Nigeria for all.Our new initiatives will tackle… pic.twitter.com/DBb81p1jd2— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) July 13, 2023

What are the interventions?

The government has outlined the following measures to improve the food security situation in the country:

Providing fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to increase crop yields and reduce food shortages.

Assigning the National Security Council to oversee the food and water distribution across the country, especially in areas affected by insecurity and banditry.

Redirecting funds from fuel subsidies to support the agricultural sector, which employs about 70% of the labour force in Nigeria.

Establishing a National Commodity Board to regulate and stabilize food prices, which have increased by more than 20% in 2022, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Enhancing agricultural practices and technologies to improve productivity and resilience to climate change and pests.

What are the objectives?

The benefits of government’s interventions include;

Reducing the cost of food for consumers, especially the poor and vulnerable who spend more than half of their income on food.

Promoting agricultural development and diversification, which are key to achieving economic growth and reducing poverty.

Creating employment opportunities for young people, women and rural dwellers, who are often excluded from the formal economy.

President Tinubu has assured of fairness, noting that no one would be overlooked in the government's pursuit of ensuring affordable and abundant food for all.

And how does he plan to achieve this?

A National Commodity Board will be established to regulate and stabilize food prices, thereby fostering a more sustainable agricultural environment.

Also, government intends to allocate funds previously dedicated to fuel subsidies towards supporting the agricultural sector.