Attaining food sovereignty, Nigeria’s target – VP Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria’s ultimate goal in its agricultural transformation journey is to achieve food sovereignty, emphasising that true national sovereignty is incomplete without food self-sufficiency.
Shettima made the statement on Tuesday while speaking during a high-level panel titled “Country Perspectives: Government-led Strategies and Regional Frameworks” at the ongoing United Nations Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Highlighting the bold steps taken by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since assuming office in 2023, the Vice President said the government is pursuing a comprehensive, youth-driven, and market-oriented strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems and insulate them from conflict and climate shocks.
In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said, “Our target is to attain food sovereignty. So long as a nation is not independent in the area of food sovereignty, it remains a non-sovereign nation”.
According to him, the Tinubu administration inherited a fragile food system undermined by insecurity, climate change, and inflation, particularly affecting vulnerable populations in conflict-ridden zones.
“In response, His Excellency President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency on Food Security, not out of fear, but out of genuine concern for the welfare of our people, especially in conflict-driven environments like the North East, where Boko Haram was sowing seeds of discord and destruction,” he stated.
Shettima explained that the government responded with systemic reforms and the establishment of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to harmonise all food security interventions without displacing existing institutions.
He noted that while short-term food support measures were launched in the North East and North West, the long-term focus is on resilience through productivity.
“In our displaced people’s camps, we’re encouraging food production for dignity and resilience. Charity is not the answer. We believe in teaching people to fish, not just giving them fish”, he said
He stressed the need for agriculture to be anchored on market dynamics, enterprise, and innovation, stating, “Our belief is that agriculture should be market-driven.
The whole mantra is about increasing yields. Entrepreneurial capitalism is embedded in the psyche of the average Nigerian.”
To this end, Shettima said the government is investing in improved seed varieties, climate-resilient farming practices, mechanisation, and extension services to help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns.
“We are reinforcing our extension services so that our farmers can get up-to-date information on rainfall patterns and how to manage the climate shocks ravaging our part of the world,” he added.
On the margins of the summit, Vice President Shettima held bilateral meetings with the heads of key global development organisations, seeking deeper partnerships to drive the administration’s Green Revolution initiative and sustainable agricultural interventions.
At a meeting with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, Shettima advocated strong collaboration in reviving the Lake Chad region, which he described as a vital agricultural hub threatened by environmental degradation, climate change, and prolonged conflict.
“The revival of the Lake Chad region requires a multi-pronged approach — development initiatives, conflict resolution, regional cooperation, and large-scale infrastructure,” the Vice President said.
He urged FAO to support Nigeria’s all-year-round farming efforts and contribute to the Federal Government’s Green Revolution Project.
The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, commended the Tinubu administration for its clear political commitment to food systems transformation, pledging enhanced partnership and technical support from the organisation.
In a separate meeting with the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Álvaro Lario, the Vice President reiterated Nigeria’s determination to empower smallholder farmers, especially youth and women.
“Our focus is on increasing productivity, resilience, and commercialisation — not handouts,” Shettima told the IFAD chief, noting that the government is looking to scale up existing IFAD-supported projects to reach more rural communities.
He stressed the importance of access to finance, modern farming equipment, and improved inputs as pillars of the new agricultural blueprint under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Later, Shettima met with the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, where he acknowledged the WFP’s longstanding humanitarian assistance in Nigeria, particularly in school feeding, nutrition, and support for displaced persons.
While appreciating these interventions, the Vice President noted that the administration is prioritising a shift from humanitarian aid to sustainable development.
In response, McCain reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to Nigeria, promising continued support in food security programmes, with special attention to vulnerable populations, nutrition, and education.
The Vice President’s engagements at the summit further underscore Nigeria’s growing leadership role in addressing food insecurity and climate-driven agricultural challenges on the African continent.
