FG appoints Osun to coordinate Southwest states’ food sufficiency programme

Unveils framework for nationwide nutrition programme

The Federal Government has appointed Osun State as the coordinating point for the implementation of the food system transformation pathways in the South West geopolitical zone, an initiative targeted at boosting nutritious and sufficient food production in Nigeria.

This disclosure was made, yesterday, in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi.

The programme was initiated by the United Nations (UN) to facilitate well-functioning food systems that will provide higher incomes for small-holder farmers and small or medium-scale food enterprises, empower women, increase youths’ employment, and increase the amount of money circulating in the economy.

IN another development, the federal government, yesterday, unveiled the framework for the comprehensive vision for a nationwide nutrition programme to address malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who disclosed this during a roundtable discussion with development partners at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the initiative aligns with the administration’s broader focus on food security and availability across Nigeria.

The statement reads in part: “The goals include reducing poverty, reducing unemployment, especially among youths, reducing hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, reducing food imports and promoting sustainable food trade, increasing women’s empowerment in agriculture index score and increasing environmental performance index score.

“In the letter addressed to Governor Ademola Adeleke and copied his counterparts in Oyo and Ekiti states, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said the implementation for the food system transformation pathways in Oyo and Ekiti states will be coordinated from Osun State.

“The minister noted that the decision is in line with the effort of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s step towards achieving nutritious and food security as well as meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) objectives in the country.

“Your Excellency may wish to be informed that the coordination of the three states in the South West zone is part of efforts to complement the steps towards achieving nutritious and food security as well as SDGs in Nigeria.

“This is also part of the step being taken to deepen the achievement of Nigeria as presented at the Stock Taking Moment (STM) in Rome that was led by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, from July 24-26, 2023.”

“The coordination arrangement is to consolidate on the agreed recommendations at the retreat of the State Commissioners of Economic Planning, Agriculture and Health held in Abuja from March 7-8, 2024 that reiterated the need for quarterly review of implementation on geopolitical zonal basis.

“Commissioners for Economic Planning, Agriculture and Health in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will therefore be expected to work together for effective delivery of the implementation strategy and multi-sectoral plan of action for food and nutrition,” the statement concluded.