President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Executive Council to act swiftly on new measures aimed at lowering food prices across Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed the directive on Wednesday, September 10, in Abuja during a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
According to Abdullahi, the president’s order focuses on securing the safe movement of farm produce across transport routes to reduce high logistics costs, one of the major factors driving food inflation.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” he said.
Nigeria has been grappling with rising food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy.
Increased transport costs and worsening insecurity on highways have made it difficult for farmers to move produce, causing sharp hikes in food prices. Despite government interventions, food remains out of reach for millions of households.
The minister explained that Tinubu’s vision goes beyond food availability.
His strategy is anchored on achieving food sovereignty, ensuring that food is affordable, accessible, and nutritious on a sustainable basis.
To support this goal, the government will soon launch a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to improve productivity.
In addition, a revamped cooperative reform initiative will be rolled out to mobilise resources and strengthen rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi noted.
The event also featured key figures, including Senate Media Committee Chairman Senator Yemi Adaramodu, ex-presidential aide Senator Ita Solomon Enang, and NILDS DG Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
Tinubu had earlier highlighted his administration’s food security agenda during his June Democracy Day speech at the National Assembly.
He stressed that the “Nigeria First” policy would boost local production, cut reliance on imports, and drive market-driven growth.
“Our medium-term growth target remains an economy growing at a seven per cent clip with a stronger manufacturing base.
We must learn to produce and grow most of our food, and we are on the path to achieving food sovereignty,” the president said.
With food prices continuing to pressure Nigerians, the coming weeks will show whether Tinubu’s new directive can bring much-needed relief to families across the country.
