By Mercy Aikoye, Abuja
The House of Representatives has reiterated its commitment to tackling the pressing issues of food security, insecurity, climate change, and low sectoral nutrition in the country. This commitment was underscored at a recent news conference in Abuja, where the Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, announced a three-day national summit on nutrition and food security.
The summit aims to bring together relevant stakeholders from the executive and legislative branches, development partners, and the private sector to harmonize legislative, policy, and programmatic responses to nutrition and food security challenges. Hon. Okafor said, “The core objectives are to harmonize legislative, policy, and programmatic responses to nutrition and food security challenges across all tiers of government.”
Despite decades of national policies and sectoral programs, Nigeria continues to grapple with alarming rates of malnutrition and food insecurity. Hon. Okafor noted, “The situation is exacerbated by factors such as climate change and environmental degradation, persistent insecurity across food-producing regions, high inflation and cost of living as well as inadequate infrastructure for food storage, processing, and distribution.”
The summit will adopt a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder engagement platform, recognizing that food security is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach. Expected stakeholders include members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, development partners like UNICEF and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
The chairman emphasized that security is a critical aspect of food security, noting, “We cannot talk about food security without also talking about the fact that today, the farmers cannot go to the farm because of the security.” The summit will feature discussions with security agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff.
The summit aims to strengthen legislative frameworks for nutrition and food security, improve budgetary appropriations, and enhance synergy between development partners and legislative stakeholders. Hon. Okafor said, “The expected outcomes include strengthened legislative frameworks for nutrition and food security at federal and state levels, improved budgetary appropriations and tracking of nutrition funding, clear recommendations for policy reform and inter-agency coordination.”
The Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, will be the special guest of honor, while the Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, will be the chief host. Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Mohammed Bago of Niger, as well as service chiefs and heads of relevant federal and state agencies, are also expected to attend.
The House of Representatives’ commitment to addressing food security challenges is a welcome development. Hon. Okafor emphasized, “By working together, Nigeria can build a more resilient and inclusive food system that ensures the well-being of its citizens.” The summit provides a critical platform for stakeholders to come together and find solutions to the complex issues affecting Nigeria’s food systems.
