…Directs ministers to ease cost of moving farm produce
…Eyes food sovereignty through cooperative, soil health schemes
By Yinka Giwa
President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep concern over the growing number of Nigerians who can no longer afford food, directing a Federal Executive Council (FEC) committee to urgently bring down prices of staple items across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday while presenting a paper at a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists covering the Senate. He said the president’s instructions are being translated into concrete actions aimed at easing the burden on households already struggling under soaring food inflation.
“I can say it on good authority that the president has given a matching order, with a federal executive council committee already handling it,” Abdullahi said. “We are working to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country.”
Abdullahi noted that the high cost of transporting farm produce was one of the key factors driving up food prices. “If you know the amount of money that is being spent, you can understand why those commodities have to be expensive at the point of delivery,” he explained.
The minister said Tinubu’s vision of “food sovereignty” extends beyond food availability to affordability, accessibility, and adequate nutrition on a sustainable basis. He stressed that the government was committed to ensuring Nigerians do not go hungry, despite the current economic hardships.
The administration is also preparing to roll out additional programmes to boost food production and resilience. Abdullahi cited the forthcoming Farmer Soil Health Scheme, which will promote soil fertility and productivity, and ongoing reforms in the cooperative sector, which the president considers critical for mobilising resources and improving livelihoods.
“Mr President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, economic activity generation, and improving the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi said. “The principle of cooperative is democratic, yet also very productive. We are reforming this and will be rolling out new measures soon.”
The workshop also featured contributions from the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, former presidential aide Senator Ita Enang, and the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
Nigeria’s food inflation hit 40.66 percent in July 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), with prices of staples such as rice, garri, beans, and yam reaching record highs. Analysts warn that unless logistics costs and insecurity in farming communities are tackled, efforts to stabilise prices will face serious obstacles.