Stakeholders demand funding, coordination to tackle food insecurity, malnutrition
Stakeholders have called for funding and proper coordination to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition in Nigeria. They made the call in Abuja at a workshop on strengthening coordination and policy
Stakeholders have called for funding and proper coordination to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition in Nigeria.
They made the call in Abuja at a workshop on strengthening coordination and policy influence in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) under the Kampala Declaration 2026–2035.
The CAADP National Focal Person, Emmanuel Onojighofia, stated that Nigeria requires multi-sectoral coordination, increased investments, and the adoption of innovative practices to implement the programme.
He noted that proper implementation would birth a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agrifood system, diversify economies, create millions of jobs, raise incomes, build social cohesion, and improve socio-economic stability.
On strategies to implement CAADP, Onojighofia said: “We need to ensure food and nutrition security across the continent, intensify sustainable food production, agro-industrialisation, and trade and boost investment and financing in transforming agrifood systems.
“We also need to build a resilient agrifood system that can withstand and adapt to various shocks and stressors; strengthen agrifood systems governance; and advance inclusivity and equitable livelihoods.”
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Chike Okafor, said the creation of the committee indicates the commitment of the legislature to nutrition.
The lawmaker, who was represented by Dr. John Onyeokoro, said efforts were ongoing by the lawmakers to abrogate some levies that contribute to the high cost of agricultural products
He said: “The leadership of the committee recognised very early that the National Assembly cannot tackle malnutrition and food insecurity alone and that was why the committee was set up in the 36 states of the Assembly to form what we call a National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.
“The idea behind the establishment of the network is to have a national approach and coordinated approach to deal with issues related to malnutrition and food insecurity and we are making efforts to address the issues through our various legislative roles.”
On the reduction of some levies responsible for the high cost of some agricultural products, he said: “There are multiple levies on goods, agricultural products that move from one part of the country to another and these have resulted in increased food inflation and you know food inflation is an aggravator of food insecurity, because food now becomes available at a very high cost. So, the parliament through legislation wants to ensure that these levies are abrogated.”
The Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, CARE Nigeria, Mr. Nasom Ngaro said that through constant engagements and collaboration, stakeholders would ensure that challenges confronting farmers and others involved in the production of agricultural products are addressed.
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He said: “We are streamlining those issues that affect the everyday farmer, because that is our main concern, the everyday farmer and increasing agricultural production and food security for Nigeria.
“We want to address the issue of access to land, access to finance, access to improved inputs, and then catalyse policies that make trade fair for people within the country. I believe if these are addressed, then food insecurity would be addressed to the barest minimum”.
The Chairperson of Community of Agriculture Non-State Actors in Nigeria (COANSA), Mrs. Rosemary Effiong, said food imports aimed at curbing prices are hurting local farmers.
“We must be deliberate to achieve food security in Nigeria because the farmers are going through a lot. The farmers have invested a lot of resources into their farming process, but the short-term government policy to bring down food prices is affecting the farmers because when you import, the prices are not competitive.
“So, the farmers may be able to produce, go to market, but they will not be able to go back to the market to buy or get input for what they plan to farm in the next season,” he added..
