Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D GCON Speaker of the House of Representatives, has reiterated his belief that food insecurity in Nigeria will soon become a thing of the past.
This message was delivered on his behalf by Hon. Chike Okafor, Ph.D., Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, during the 22nd Annual Daily Trust Dialogue held in Abuja on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
In his keynote address as the Guest of Honour,the Rt Hon Speaker,represented by Hon. Okafor commended the dialogue’s theme, “Food Security: Availability or Affordability?” and assured Nigerians of the National Assembly House of Representatives commitment to tackling the nation’s food challenges through effective legislation.
He emphasized that the commitment can be seen more in the decision of the House of Representatives 10th Assembly under his leadership naming a distinct and brand new Committee on Nutrition and Food Security with Hon Chike Okafor,Ph.D as Chairman.
“We are committed to enacting policies that support farmers with subsidies, access to credit, modern farming techniques, and inputs,” he said.
He highlighted initiatives by the Hon Okafor led committee to combat food shortages, including,but not limited to the launch of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security, introduced on July 22, 2024, in collaboration with state legislators.
He expressed concern over Nigeria’s high rates of malnutrition, particularly among children, many of whom suffer from stunted growth and micronutrient deficiencies.
“We are taking proactive steps to address these challenges by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and encouraging the adoption of digital innovation, data protection, and e-commerce,” he added.
Continuing, Speaker Abbas, through Hon. Okafor emphasized the need for collective efforts to tackle food insecurity, urging young people, in particular, to take the lead by actively engaging in agriculture.
“I believe that we must collectively strive to enhance agricultural production, lower costs, and build the infrastructure needed for the agricultural and allied sectors to thrive. I do not believe that food security is a privilege. It is a fundamental right. No citizen of our dear country should go to bed hungry because of the contest between availability and affordability,” the speaker stated.
He expressed optimism about addressing food insecurity through the federal government’s renewed hope programme, supported by the National Assembly’s legislative agenda.
“With the right focus, I firmly believe that food insecurity in Nigeria will become history. We are not far from achieving this,” he said.
The speaker further emphasized the importance of actionable resolutions from the dialogue and reaffirmed the House of Representatives’ readiness to support any legislation stemming from the discussions.
The event brought together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to deliberate on practical solutions for improving food security across Nigeria.
