Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria has repositioned food security as a core macroeconomic, security, and governance priority, moving beyond the traditional view of agriculture as a standalone sector. He made this known while speaking at a high-level panel titled “When Food Becomes Security” during the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
The Vice President explained that the Federal Government has commenced a multi-dimensional food security strategy aimed at shielding the country from global supply chain disruptions while restoring productivity in key food basket regions. According to him, Nigeria’s approach is anchored on increased food production, environmental sustainability, and deeper regional integration within the West African sub-region.
He noted that Nigeria’s diverse ecological zones face distinct climate challenges, with desertification and drought affecting the Sahelian North, while flooding remains a major threat in the riverine South and parts of the North Central region. To address these challenges, the government is promoting drought-resistant, flood-tolerant, and early-maturing crop varieties such as rice, sorghum, and millet, alongside redesigned food systems capable of withstanding climate shocks.
Shettima identified insecurity in major food-producing areas as a critical constraint to agricultural productivity, noting that many of the nation’s food baskets are located in conflict-affected regions. He disclosed that the Federal Government is establishing food security corridors and strengthening community-based security arrangements to enable farmers return safely to their farmlands.
The Vice President also announced the launch of the Back to the Farm Initiative, a programme designed to resettle displaced farmers by providing access to agricultural inputs, insurance, and capital to restart food production. He said the initiative is central to restoring confidence and stability in rural economies.
Addressing Nigeria’s macroeconomic vulnerabilities, Shettima identified heavy reliance on food imports and foreign exchange volatility as major drivers of food inflation. He said the government is accelerating local production and promoting substitutes such as sorghum, millet, and cassava flour to reduce imports of wheat, sugar, and dairy products.
He added that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is aligning food security with inflation control, national stability, and stronger regional cooperation. The Vice President expressed optimism that ongoing reforms will accelerate climate adaptation efforts and drive intra-African trade beyond current levels in the coming months.
