STRENGTHENING NIGERIA'S FOOD CHAIN: Stakeholders Call for Stronger Collaboration Between Government and Private Sector
In the
face of escalating global hunger and worsening food insecurity, Nigeria finds
itself at a critical juncture in its agricultural evolution.
Experts and stakeholders across the country are sounding the alarm and urging immediate, strategic action to fortify the nation’s food supply chain.
The consensus is
clear: sustainable food security in Nigeria hinges on deliberate investments in
local production, processing, and distribution, underpinned by robust
collaboration between government institutions and private enterprises.
Food, as
emphasized by contributors in the report, is not merely a commodity, it is a
cornerstone of national survival and security. The call to industrialize
agriculture is gaining traction, with stakeholders advocating for value
addition as a pathway to both food sufficiency and economic resilience.
They
argue that Nigeria must pivot from its oil dependency and embrace agriculture
as the new frontier for national development.
One of
the key voices in the report stressed that securing farmers is paramount. If
farmers are protected and empowered, food can be produced, processed, and
distributed more affordably. This, in turn, would enable Nigeria to not only
feed itself but also export agricultural products and earn valuable foreign
exchange.
The
vision is one of a self-reliant nation, where every citizen contributes to food
production and the country no longer depends on imports to meet its nutritional
needs.
The
message is urgent and inclusive. Stakeholders are calling on every Nigerian to
return to the basics, engaging in farming and agricultural activities, no
matter how small. They believe that if all hands are on deck, hunger can be
eradicated and the country can build a resilient food system that supports its
growing population.
The
report concludes with a powerful reminder: agriculture is the key. It is time
to look beyond oil and invest in the soil.
For many
Nigerians, achieving a sustainable food supply chain is not just a policy goal,
it is a national imperative tied to industrialization, economic growth, and the
dream of a hunger-free nation.
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