… attributes fall in food prices to targeted market govt interventions
By Stella Odueme
The minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari has said that food sovereignty has become the driving momentum of the nation’s agricultural transformation, ensuring that food security is built on local capacity, national ownership, and inclusive growth.
Kyari who spoke on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 47th Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security in Kaduna, highlighted measures being implemented by his ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda to boost food security, even as he attributed the recent decline in the prices of foodstuffs in country to targeted market government interventions.
He said this year’s theme, “Food Sovereignty and Food Security: An Era of Renewed Hope,” aligns directly with this vision, noting that the the first step toward food sovereignty is ensuring consistent, high-yield production through timely access to quality and affordable inputs.
“Food sovereignty speaks to our control over what we grow, how we grow it, and how we consume it. Food security, in turn, ensures that every household has access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food.
“Together, they define the pathway toward an inclusive and resilient agricultural system that leaves no one behind.
“As we continue along this path, we are already beginning to witness a decline in food prices across several commodities, a reflection of ongoing targeted market interventions. While we are not yet where we want to be, this positive trend confirms that we are moving in the right direction.”
The minister said to strengthen national food security and stabilise prices, operations at the National Strategic Grain Reserve Silos in Zamfara, Katsina, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Osun, Edo, and Kwara States are being enhanced for greater efficiency and capacity.
According to him, by integrating these facilities into the national food distribution framework, the Ministry is building a responsive system that ensures timely interventions during shortages and supports long-term food stability.
He recalled that earlier this year, under the deliberate efforts and policy direction of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Bank of Agriculture was approved to be recapitalised with ₦1.5 trillion, alongside an additional ₦250 billion financing window for smallholder farmers, marking a decisive step toward repositioning the Bank as the anchor of Nigeria’s agricultural financing system.
In collaboration with State Governments and partners, he said that the Ministry has been investing in rural infrastructure, including feeder roads, solar-powered boreholes, water treatment plants, mini-earth dams, and solar street lighting, to enhance market access, improve productivity, and strengthen rural livelihoods.
“We have also strengthened agricultural cooperatives, launched the National Soil Health Initiative, and promoted resilient seed varieties that support climate-smart agriculture and long-term sustainability.
“As we deliberate and approve memoranda during this Council, let us remember that every decision we take must lead to measurable results in our communities. We must leave here not just with resolutions, but with renewed determination to act,” he enjoined the participants.
Also speaking, the Minister for State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullah said that Nigeria has
opportunities to radically transform its food production systems and contribute more to regional food security, having the largest agricultural potentials in the West African sub-region.
Abdullahi emphasized the adoption of climate-smart agriculture to achieve long-term productivity.
“We must adopt climate-smart practices that increase crop yields while building resilience,”
He highlighted flagship initiatives, including the 500,000-hectare Dry Season Farming Scheme, renewable energy-powered water projects for irrigation, and household food production through the Every Home a Garden initiative championed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
“More importantly, our broader goals are targeted at reducing import dependence, strengthening market confidence and reviving agribusiness to position Nigeria as a leading food supplier in West Africa.
“In conclusion, we at the FMAFS wish to sincerely thank Mr. President for his confidence and continue belief in our capacity to support his vision of a food secure country where “no man goes to bed hungry” and support economic diversification through agricultural innovations and growth.
“We assure Mr. President of our unalloyed and unflinching loyalty and total dedication to this task of nation building. We pray for his good health, increased wisdom, and courage as he leads Nigeria to greatness.”
In his remarks, while declaring the Council Meeting Open, the Governor of Kaduna State, Sen. Uba Sani said, “This year’s session unfolds at a defining moment in our collective journey, one in which the very notion of food security has transcended policy and entered the realm of national survival.”
“We face a dual imperative: to secure the food that nourishes our people and to build an agricultural economy that sustains our prosperity. Across the globe, the food systems of tomorrow are being shaped by innovation, resilience, and inclusivity. “
The governor pointed out that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, our nation is embracing that transformation. Guided by the visionary leadership of President Tinubu the Federal Government has repositioned agriculture at the centre of Nigeria’s economic architecture, through mechanization, value-chain integration, improved input systems, and the modernization of rural infrastructure.
“These are not isolated policies; they are the scaffolding of a new era of shared growth and self-reliance. we have placed this national vision at the heart of our governance agenda.
“Agriculture, to us, is not merely a sector: it is a moral and economic imperative. It is the foundation of rural transformation, the engine of inclusive development, and the bridge that connects aspiration to opportunity.
“We have pursued deliberate, evidence-driven interventions that empower both the smallholder who tills a single hectare and the commercial farmer who drives industrial-scale production.
Earlier, the ministers, Permanent Secretary, the ministry’s officials and stakeholders paid a field visits to De-Branch Farmers, the Afrexim Bank Quality Assurance Centre currently under construction, Olam Agri, Tomato Jos, and TMDK Agro Park, where there were impressive examples of innovation, value addition, and rural job creation shaping Kaduna’s agricultural transformation.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of awards and recognition to outstanding farmers and agricultural stakeholders.
