FOOD SECURITY: VP Shettima Unveils Nigeria’s Macro-Strategy At Davos Meeting

Says ‘Back to the Farm’ initiative to curb inflation, FX spending on imports

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria no longer views food security through a narrow agricultural lens, but as a fundamental macroeconomic, security, and governance issue.

He said the Federal Government had begun a multi-dimensional agricultural drive designed to insulate the nation from global shocks while restoring the productivity of its food basket regions.

Speaking at a high-level panel titled “When Food Becomes Security” at the Congress Centre during the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, VP Shettima said the Federal Government no longer treats food security as a narrow agricultural concern but as a strategic pillar for governance, economic stability, and regional cohesion.

“In Nigeria, we don’t look at food security purely as an agricultural issue. It is a macroeconomic, security and governance issue. Our focus is to use food security as a pillar for national security, regional cohesion and stability.”

According to the Vice President, Nigeria’s food security strategy is anchored on three pillars: increased food production, environmental sustainability, and deeper regional integration within the West African sub-region.

He explained that changing global trends and supply chain disruptions have compelled Nigeria to look inward and rebuild its agricultural base by developing resilient food systems tailored to its diverse ecological zones.

“Nigeria is a very large country, and there is an incestuous relationship between economy and ecology. In the Sahelian North, we are dealing with desertification, deforestation and drought. In the riverine South and parts of the North Central, flooding is our major challenge.”

To address these challenges, the Vice President said the government is promoting drought-resistant, flood-tolerant, and early-maturing varieties of staple crops such as rice, sorghum, and millet, while redesigning food systems in flood-prone southern regions to withstand climate shocks.

Security, he noted, remains a major constraint, particularly because many conflict-affected areas are also Nigeria’s primary food-producing zones.

“Most of the food baskets of our nation are security-challenged. That is why we are creating food security corridors and strengthening community-based security engagements so farmers can return safely to their land.”

He disclosed that the Federal Government has launched the Back to the Farm Initiative, a programme designed to resettle displaced farmers by providing them with agricultural inputs, insurance, and access to capital to restart food production.

Addressing Nigeria’s macroeconomic vulnerabilities, the Vice President identified import dependence and foreign exchange volatility as major drivers of food inflation.

“We largely import wheat, sugar and dairy products, and this has a direct impact on inflation. Our strategy is to accelerate local production and promote substitutes such as sorghum, millet and cassava flour to correct these structural imbalances,” VP Shettima said.

The Vice President said Nigeria’s approach aligns food security with national stability, inflation control, and regional cooperation, positioning agriculture as a frontline response to both economic and security threats.

The Vice President further highlighted that Nigeria, renowned as the African giant, has “woken up from its slumber” under President Tinubu, and that the government is on course to make “it possible for smallholders and fishers to become investable at scale” within 12 months.

The Vice President confirmed that, in Africa, especially in light of global trends, intra-African trade has almost become a necessity, adding that “there have been some alignments.”

Senator Kashim Shettima urged his African counterparts to intensify efforts under the canopy of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to ensure that African nations get things right internally.

The Vice President expressed optimism that with the ongoing Renewed Hope Agenda reforms, the coming months will witness greater climate adaptation moving from pilot to reality, as well as a boom in intra-African trade far beyond 10.7%.

FOOD SECURITY: VP Shettima Unveils Nigeria’s Macro-Strategy At Davos Meeting

Gov. Uba Sani visits scene of Kurmin Wali attack,vows to free captives

By: Zagazola Makama

Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State on Wednesday visited Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area, scene of a recent bandit attack, where he admitted the incident and pledged decisive action to secure the release of those abducted.

The governor, who commiserated with the victims and their families, described the Jan. 18 attack on three churches in the community as painful and unacceptable, assuring residents that his administration would intensify efforts to restore lasting peace in the area.

Sani said the state government would work closely with the military and other security stakeholders to ensure the safe return of all captives and prevent a recurrence of such attacks.

He appealed to the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), a native of Kaduna State, to support the establishment of a military base in the area to enhance security and deter criminal elements.

The governor also announced plans to construct an access road to Kurmin Wali, establish a Primary Health Care centre, and provide other social amenities to improve living conditions and strengthen government presence in the community.

Addressing international and local journalists who accompanied him to the village, Sani said his administration remained committed to protecting lives and property across Kaduna State.

Residents of Kurmin Wali thanked the governor for the visit and pledged their cooperation with the government to help secure the release of the abducted persons and sustain peace in the area.

Gov. Uba Sani visits scene of Kurmin Wali attack,vows to free captives

The Emir of Tikau urges the new Emir of Gamawa to carry his people along for the development of the emirate

By: Yahaya Wakili

His Royal Highness the Emir of Tikau in Yobe State, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Ibn Grema II, has called on the new emir of Gamawa in Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir Adamu, to carry everybody along in the emirate for the development of the nation.

The royal father made the appeal today at his place in Sabon Garin Nangere while receiving the new emir of Gamawa in Bauchi state, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir Adamu. He said the creation of emirates is a great development for the nation.

“As we know, there was a very strong relationship between the Gamawa and Tikau emirates, and these will continue existing, and we share a boundary with them, and there was something that was raised between us and them, and anything that affected them affected us directly.” The Royal Father said.

According to Mai Tikau, the most cases we have are the conflicts between the farmers and the herders from time to time. Sometimes they will enter our territory, and sometimes we will enter their own, adding that, for the issue of the border, we hope with your coming as the new emir of Gamawa, this problem will be solved.

Speaking earlier, the emir of Gamawa, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir Adamu, said they were at Tikau Place to express their appreciation to the royal father, the emir of Tikau, for his support given to us since we emerged as the new emir of Gamawa.

He said, “Immediately His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Hon. Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad Kaura, created this emirate. Mai Tikau is the first person who sent a delegation to Gamawa to congratulate us.”

The Emir of Tikau urges the new Emir of Gamawa to carry his people along for the development of the emirate