President Bola Tinubu has handed down a tough directive to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), demanding urgent action to crush Nigeria’s skyrocketing food prices.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, revealed the order on Wednesday in Abuja, stressing that Tinubu wants swift measures to cut logistics costs and ensure farm produce reaches markets without disruption.
“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 told reporters at a Senate correspondents’ workshop.
The instruction comes as food inflation bites harder across the country, worsened by the removal of fuel subsidy, spiraling transport costs, and insecurity on highways that have left millions unable to afford basic staples.
Abdullahi explained that Tinubu’s vision isn’t just about food supply but about affordability, accessibility, and nutrition.
He announced plans for a Farmer Soil Health Scheme and a sweeping cooperative reform drive to boost rural productivity.
“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 said.
The minister spoke at the event themed “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” which also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
Tinubu had earlier, during his Democracy Day address, reaffirmed his push for food sovereignty. “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,” he declared.
