The House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind the Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative (AMFSI), describing it as a transformative, technology-driven solution capable of addressing up to 90 per cent of Nigeria’s food security challenges if implemented nationwide.
The endorsement was announced at the closing session of a three-day national forum organised by the MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria, which brought together lawmakers, policy experts and industry stakeholders to deliberate on practical responses to the country’s worsening hunger crisis.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Haruna Gowon, who represents Bassa/Dekina Federal Constituency, underscored the urgency of food security, describing it as a national priority that demands deliberate legislative action.
He noted that adequate food supply underpins health, productivity, poverty reduction and social stability, adding that food scarcity is closely linked to rising insecurity.
“Food security is more vital than any other form of security. A hungry man is an angry man, and ensuring food availability will strengthen national security, stabilise the naira and reduce pressure on the foreign exchange market,” Gowon said.
He assured participants that the National Assembly would provide the necessary legislative support and oversight to enable the AMFSI to reach communities across the country.
According to him, the initiative is a shared national responsibility, with lawmakers committed to ensuring that the needs of constituents are directly addressed.
Reinforcing this position, Mr. Chrisland Onyemechara, Senior Consultant to the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, said the AMFSI aligns with four key pillars of food security: environment, partnership, advocacy and innovation.
He explained that well-coordinated, technology-based interventions, supported by strong institutional frameworks, could resolve most of Nigeria’s food challenges.
“Strengthening systems from the grassroots, backed by good governance and proper coordination, will significantly improve productivity and access to food nationwide,” Onyemechara said.
Earlier, the National President of the MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria, Ambassador Olakunle Johnson, described the AMFSI as a privately driven, digitally powered initiative designed to provide food access to over 40 million Nigerians.
He said the programme is anchored on a Virtual Digital Identity (VDI) platform that registers individuals digitally and links them to local food banks and community kitchens, ensuring transparency and equity in food distribution.
“This is not another political promise. It is a fully operational system built on digitalisation, community participation and nationwide collaboration,” Johnson said, adding that engagements with local and international investors are already at an advanced stage.
He noted that federal, state and local governments would provide regulatory oversight, while implementation would decentralise food access to the smallest community units.
Other stakeholders at the event also commended the initiative.
Chief Charles Igwenagu, MATAN’s South-East General Secretary, described it as “about bringing life to the nation,” while the National Secretary, Dr. Felix Osakwe, said it aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda.
With rising food prices, supply chain disruptions and persistent security challenges, stakeholders expressed optimism that the AMFSI’s digital food security framework could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s quest for sustainable food access, economic stability and community-based resilience.
