Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency on food security was motivated by a deep concern for the welfare of Nigerians, particularly vulnerable communities in conflict-hit regions.
Speaking during a country perspectives panel at the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Shettima emphasized that the move was not driven by fear but by the urgent need to address food insecurity, especially in the North East, where insurgency has severely disrupted agricultural activities.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, the vice president said the emergency declaration and broader food strategy reflect a vision to transform agriculture into a resilient, youth-led, and market-driven sector capable of driving national growth.
“Our target is to attain food sovereignty,” Shettima said. “So long as a nation is not independent in the area of food sovereignty, it remains a non-sovereign nation.”
He added that President Tinubu’s initiative prioritizes the needs of the most affected communities, asserting that food security is essential to achieving full national sovereignty.
