At least 31.8 million Nigerians are currently facing acute food insecurity, with malnutrition affecting many women and children, according to a recent report.
The 2024 Cadre Harmonise report has identified the sharp rise in food commodity prices, largely due to the removal of fuel subsidies, as a key factor exacerbating this crisis.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Director of Press at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Julie Osagie-Jacobs, noted that security challenges in key food production areas have further worsened the situation for millions of Nigerians.
The statement highlighted that “Development partners which include the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), GAIN, GIZ, Agsys, made this disclosure at the Joint review meeting on implementation of the Food systems in Nigeria, held from the 26th-27th August, 2024.”
Stakeholders at the meeting emphasized the need for a multi-sectoral approach to tackle the issue of food security, stressing that a comprehensive response is essential to address the various challenges simultaneously.
“They noted that the civil society Organizations including the Private sector must be involved to extend the reach of nutrition efforts,” the statement continued, adding that these partners have pledged their unwavering support to transforming Nigeria’s food systems.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, inaugurated the meeting by outlining its objectives, which included reviewing the current status of implementation and allowing Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to present updates on their activities related to the food transformation pathways in Nigeria.
He also acknowledged the crucial role of development partners, particularly GIZ, in advancing Nigeria’s food systems, stating that their collective efforts are driving innovative solutions to strengthen the sector.
Te National Convenor of Food Systems in Nigeria and Director of Social Development at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Sanjo Faniran, also praised the commitment of all stakeholders in advancing Nigeria’s food system.
He mentioned that the review meeting aimed to identify gaps, successes, and challenges while offering recommendations and facilitating peer reviews among MDAs.
The technical session of the meeting featured several key presentations, including Dr. Sanjo Faniran’s “Overview of Food Systems Transformation Implementation Strategy,” Prof. Kola Anigo’s “Enhancing Multi-Sectoral Collaboration For Food Systems Transformation,” and FAO’s “Financing and Resource Mobilization for Food Systems Transformation.” Other presentations included “Youth Engagement in Food Systems” by Mr. Azeez Salawu and various MDAs’ progress reports on implementation.
