President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to urgently implement measures aimed at reducing food prices across the country.
The Minister Of State For Agriculture And Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, revealed this directive on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Abdullahi, the President’s instruction is focused on guaranteeing the safe passage of farm produce on major transport routes in order to lower logistics costs that continue to drive up food prices.
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He said, “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.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is battling worsening food insecurity following the removal of fuel subsidy, high transportation costs, and insecurity on highways which have disrupted the free movement of goods and services.
Despite multiple interventions, food prices remain largely unaffordable for millions of Nigerians, leaving many households struggling to meet basic nutritional needs.
Abdullahi explained that the initiative forms part of President Tinubu’s broader vision of achieving food sovereignty by ensuring not only availability but also affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
As part of this plan, the minister disclosed that the government will soon launch a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost agricultural productivity, alongside a renewed cooperative reform initiative designed to mobilize resources and empower rural farmers.
He added, “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.”
According to the PUNCH, the announcement was made during a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents, themed “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges And Responsibilities.” The event also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; former presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
It will be recalled that in June, during his Democracy Day address at the National Assembly, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to achieving food sovereignty through policy reforms and economic growth strategies.
In his words, “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. Our medium-term growth target remains an economy growing at a seven per cent clip with a stronger manufacturing base. We must learn to produce and grow most of our food, and we are on the path to achieving food sovereignty.”
