Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, announced that President Bola Tinubu has directed him and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, to lead Nigeria towards food security and ensure that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry.
Speaking at the Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) Youth Wing Convention in Abuja on Wednesday, Abdullahi emphasized that strong policies and actions are being implemented to achieve food security in the country.
“The President has repeatedly told us that his vision is a nation where no one goes to bed hungry,” Abdullahi said.
He further highlighted the importance of food security, stating, “There can be no civilization without it, and the lack of food security is unacceptable in any nation.”
Abdullahi noted that Nigeria has significant potential to achieve food security, with approximately 73 million hectares of arable land, of which 34 million hectares are currently under cultivation.
Encouraging Nigerian youth to engage in agriculture, Abdullahi said, “Agriculture remains the only source of sustainable wealth.”
In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the minister revealed that several policies have been established to promote sustainable food production. Among these is the introduction of agricultural mechanization to alleviate the burden of subsistence farming.
“President Tinubu has approved powerful agricultural intervention programs focused on mechanization,” he said.
He highlighted the Greener Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (GHAPP), which aims to establish modern agricultural mechanization service centers and hubs across 37 farming clusters.
The program would collaborate with technical partners from South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil to produce and supply agricultural machinery and create enterprise centers nationwide.
Abdullahi also mentioned the Balerius Agric Mechanisation programme, which would provide 10,000 tractors over five years, and the John Deere agricultural mechanization programme, which will offer smart tractors and other farming equipment.
To further ensure precision agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security plans to introduce the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Card Scheme (NFSHCS). This initiative is designed to enhance soil health awareness and boost productivity in line with President Tinubu’s vision.
Dr. Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education, also addressed the convention, pledging his ministry’s support in working with some states to establish School Farm Clubs, aimed at engaging students in agriculture from an early age.
He praised the convention organizers and urged them to ensure their efforts reach grassroots communities.
In her opening remarks, Omolara Svensson, National Coordinator of NWAPDI, stressed the vital role of youth in agricultural productivity.
She noted that issues such as food security, climate change, and financial empowerment are critical for securing a bright future for agriculture.
Svensson encouraged Nigerian youth to embrace agriculture, stating that the convention was designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed for sustainable agricultural practices.
One participant, Mariam Tijjani Suleiman, highlighted the importance of agriculture for human survival, affirming that the path to Nigeria’s food self-sufficiency depends on the energy, creativity, and intelligence of young people. She acknowledged the challenges faced by Nigerian youth but urged them to seize the vast opportunities in the agricultural sector.
The convention’s theme was “Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability: Nigerian Youth Transforming Agriculture for a Greener Future.”