Vice president Kashim Shettima has unveiled Nigeria’s comprehensive macro-strategy on food security, positioning it as a critical component of economic stability, national security and governance reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Shettima disclosed this at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, where he engaged global leaders and development partners on Nigeria’s response to rising food inflation, climate pressures and global supply chain disruptions.

According to the Vice-President, the Federal Government has moved beyond treating food security solely as an agricultural concern, stressing that it now sits at the heart of macro-economic planning and national stability.

“In Nigeria, food security is no longer viewed as just an agricultural issue; it is a macro-economic, security and governance priority,” Shettima said.

Macro-Economic Focus

Shettima explained that Nigeria’s strategy is designed to address food-driven inflation and reduce the country’s exposure to foreign exchange shocks caused by heavy reliance on food imports.

He said the government is prioritising increased domestic production of key staples and local substitutes to conserve foreign exchange, stabilise prices and strengthen household food access.

The Vice-President noted that boosting local value chains would also support employment, improve rural incomes and enhance Nigeria’s economic resilience.

Security and Agricultural Recovery

Addressing concerns over insecurity in farming communities, Shettima said the government is working to restore confidence among farmers, particularly in conflict-affected regions, through coordinated security interventions and support programmes.

He said the administration recognises that sustainable food production cannot thrive without addressing insecurity, displacement and farmer access to land.

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Shettima also highlighted climate change as a major threat to food systems, noting that Nigeria is adopting climate-smart agricultural practices tailored to its diverse ecological zones.

According to him, the strategy promotes drought-resistant and flood-tolerant crops, improved irrigation systems and environmentally sustainable farming techniques to mitigate the effects of climate variability.

Regional and Global Cooperation

The Vice-President underscored the importance of regional integration, calling for stronger collaboration among African countries to boost food production, trade and resilience.

He said Nigeria is leveraging frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to strengthen intra-African food trade and reduce dependence on distant global supply chains.

Outlook

Shettima reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing policies that will guarantee food availability, affordability and accessibility, while aligning agricultural reforms with broader economic and security objectives.

He said Nigeria’s presentation at Davos reflects the administration’s determination to attract partnerships and investments that support long-term food security and sustainable development.