Advocate need to fix Nigeria’s food supply chain

The Federal Government has been urged to create an enabling environment for local food manufacturers through affordable financing, reliable infrastructure and policies that encourage local production.

Chief Executive Officer of Spectra Industries Limited, Oko-Oba, Lagos, Duro Kuteyi, who gave the advice during the celebration of World Food Day 2026, also appealed to financial institutions, farmers and private investors to work together to strengthen the country’s food value chain.

He said: “We must invest in modern processing technologies, reduce food waste, improve food safety and make nutritious foods more accessible to vulnerable communities. Tackling malnutrition requires more than producing food. It requires ensuring that people can afford and access safe, balanced and nutritious diets.”

MEANWHILE, an agricultural development expert, Olakunlehin John Oladapo, has called for reforms in Nigeria’s food supply chain, saying increased production alone would not make food affordable to struggling families.

“At Spectra Industries, we remain committed to contributing to this goal through product innovation, local value chain addition and responsible food manufacturing. Let us remember that when we invest in food processing, we invest in farmers, jobs, nutrition and the future of Nigeria,” he said.

Kuteyi noted that the 2026 World Food Day, themed: “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow,” reminds all sector players that food decisions, investment and innovations made today will determine the health and prosperity of future generations.

He added that Nigeria is blessed with abundant agricultural resources but in spite of that, the country has continued to face challenges, such as food insecurity, rising food prices, post-harvest losses and malnutrition, particularly among children.

Also, Head of Human Resources of the company, Odimkpa Chamberlain, urged all the sector players to make innovation a continuous commitment not only in the laboratories and factories, but throughout the entire food value chain.

He said: “As a food industry, we must look beyond simply producing more food. We must produce better, safer, more nutritious, affordable, and accessible food. Innovation must, therefore, influence the way we source our raw materials, process our products, reduce waste, improve nutrition, use technology, and reach consumers.

“For us at Spectra Industries Limited, innovation is not just about developing new products; it is about creating food solutions that improve lives. We have a responsibility to contribute to the fight against malnutrition, support local agriculture, create employment, and make nutritious food available to more families.

“If we innovate today, we can reduce food waste, improve nutrition, strengthen food security, empower farmers, create jobs, and ultimately ensure that future generations have access to safe and nutritious food.”

Oladapo, who spoke at the Lions International Multiple District 404, Nigeria, said weaknesses in transportation, storage, packaging and distribution continued to undermine access to affordable, nutritious food.

He said that food security depends on the entire journey from farms to consumers, including the activities of transporters and market traders, rather than production alone.

The expert, therefore, called for practical innovations to reduce costs and improve the movement of food from producing areas to urban markets.

He also urged young Nigerians to explore opportunities in agricultural logistics, packaging, digital services and information systems, saying innovation did not necessarily require sophisticated technology.

In her goodwill message, a Lions International board appointee, Dame Adetope Tychus, stressed the importance of tackling hunger and malnutrition, particularly among children, noting that inadequate nutrition could have serious health consequences.