President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on agriculture in Nigeria. Vice President Kashim Shettima made this announcement during a session at the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking at the session titled “Country Perspectives: Government-led Strategies and Regional Framework”, Shettima explained that the decision was driven by the urgent need to address rising food insecurity, especially in conflict-ridden regions like the North-East, where Boko Haram insurgency continues to disrupt livelihoods.
“Hunger knows no bounds,” Shettima said, stressing that no nation can be considered sovereign if it lacks food sovereignty.
He highlighted that Tinubu’s declaration was born out of a genuine concern for the welfare of Nigerians, particularly those affected by conflict. In response, the government has launched bold policy measures, including the creation of Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Units — aimed at enhancing coordination across existing agricultural bodies and improving food delivery systems.
The vice president also commended the World Food Programme and other multilateral agencies for their ongoing support, especially in delivering food support mechanisms to the North-East and other vulnerable areas.
