Tinubu Orders FEC Committee to Act Swiftly on Food Price Reduction

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to move swiftly and implement measures aimed at reducing food prices across Nigeria, amid rising concerns over worsening food insecurity.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, revealed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents. He explained that the President’s directive centres on ensuring the safe passage of farm produce across major transport routes to minimise logistics costs, which have significantly contributed to skyrocketing food prices.

“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,” Abdullahi stated.

Tackling Food Insecurity Head-On

Nigeria has been grappling with worsening food insecurity, exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies, rising transportation costs, and insecurity on major highways. These challenges have disrupted the movement of goods and made basic food items increasingly unaffordable for millions of citizens.

The minister explained that the government’s strategy goes beyond ensuring food availability to achieving affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis. As part of this plan, the government will introduce a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost agricultural productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to empower rural farmers through resource mobilisation and economic activity generation.

“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,” Abdullahi added.

Tinubu’s Broader Vision for Food Sovereignty

The workshop also featured contributions from Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.

Tinubu had earlier reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to food sovereignty in his Democracy Day address in June, noting that his policies were laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.

“Our ‘Nigeria First’ policy will further enhance progress as we consolidate market-driven growth. We must learn to produce and grow most of our food, and we are on the path to achieving food sovereignty,” the President said at the time.

With the FEC committee now tasked to act swiftly, Nigerians will be watching closely to see how the promised measures translate into real relief at markets nationwide.

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