BY ABONYI IKECHUKWU EMMANUEL
According to Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, Nigeria has mobilized over half a billion dollars for an innovative, affordable, equitable and sustainable food system transformation initiative.
The Vice President made the announcement while chairing a high-level meeting on the first day of the UN Food Systems Summit announced by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guteress in Rome, Italy.
Vice President Shettima said the funds were mobilized “from domestic resources, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and agribusiness climate funds”; and would be used to “fund innovation for food system transformation; Development of Agricultural Value Chain in Nigeria and Special Programs for Agro-Industrial Zones”.
Further explanations, Sen.Shettima said: “At this event, the Nigerian Government will showcase its Value Chain Development Program (VCDP) as a unique example of a successful partnership between manufacturers, the public sector and private operators.” 0 countries with annual sales of approximately $39.8 billion,” added the vice president.
Describing the government’s vision for eradicating hunger, the Vice President added, “Building on the success of the VCDP, the federal government is committed to enabling Nigeria’s smallholder farmers, youth and women living below the poverty line to take advantage of the new Special Processing Zones.” Bringing together governments, IFAD, AfDB, IDB, GCF, OLAM and other private entities with the Nigerian government to fund transformative food systems that leave no one behind.”
During a panel discussion with Somali Prime Minister Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; Kenyan Vice President Rigathi Gachagua; and Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger Ouhoudou Mahamadou, Vice-President, stated that President Tinubu “is determined to change the concept and meaning of modern governance”; In doing so, he demonstrates his commitment to the country’s food system.
According to him, “President Tinubu began to act from the first day of his tenure, which was only two months in power, and then declared a state of emergency for food security and treated it as a livelihood in the National Security Council.”
On removing obstacles to economic recovery, he said, “We had two problems breathing down our necks: gasoline subsidies and a multi-currency exchange rate system.”
“From day one we have them Abolished petrol subsidies, just as President Ruto did in Kenya. To mitigate the impact of the subsidy cuts, the government initiated the immediate release of grain and fertilizers.
“Commodity Marketing Board established to continuously review and monitor food prices.”
“As such, the President has already authorized the deployment of massive resources to reposition our security architecture as we have similar issues with Somalia and Kenya, particularly in the north-eastern and north-western regions of the country. We are repositioning our security architecture to support farms and farmers.”Muhammad Suleiman Al Jasser, President of Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Vice President of AfDB, Ms Hassatau N’Sele, Vice President of OLAM International, Mr Reji George and Vice President of Commodity Alliance Forum (representing farmers), Ms Ejim Lovelyn.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guteress opened the summit and commended the participating countries for their commitment to fighting hunger and malnutrition.
“This is the gathering about food system. It is essentially to fulfill those basic of human rights – the right to food. It is outrageous that people continue to suffer in the world of plenty,” the UN scribe stated.
The Vice President also had bilateral meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. Both leaders discussed issues about the development of the two countries.
The Vice President was accompanied to the meeting by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Italy, Mfawa Abam and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, and other senior government officials.
