Writing By Daniel Karlmax, Editing By Godwin Duru
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s capacity for food self-sufficiency and ensuring citizens’ access to safe and nutritious meals.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, stated this while declaring open the technical session of the forty seventh National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) in Kaduna.
Dr. Ogunbiyi said the session would enable stakeholders to develop strategies that promote food sovereignty and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
According to him, the programme, with the theme “Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope,” aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agriculture as a key driver of economic recovery and transformation.
He described the technical session as the council’s “engine room,” where memoranda from states, partners, and the private sector are reviewed to guide national agricultural policy.
Ogunbiyi urged delegates to focus on climate-smart agriculture, agribusiness expansion, digital innovation, and farmers’ welfare to enhance productivity and sustainability across agricultural value chains.
“Our goal is simple, to produce what we eat and ensure every household has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary commended the support of development partners, including the World Bank and USAID among others toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).
In his remarks, Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, said the state was honoured to host the council and reaffirmed Kaduna’s position as a major agricultural hub.
He noted that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has prioritised agriculture as a driver of economic growth, youth empowerment, and rural development.
The four-day technical session will culminate in a ministerial Session, where resolutions will be adopted to guide agricultural and food security policies nationwide.
Daniel Karlmax
