By Promise Dera

Copyright nigerianeye

President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to a Federal Executive Council (FEC) committee to urgently implement strategies aimed at drastically reducing food prices across the country.

The announcement came from Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, during a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday.

Abdullahi highlighted the president’s “marching order” to prioritize the safe and efficient transport of agricultural produce, which would significantly lower logistics costs plaguing the sector.

“The President has given a matching order, with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi stated, emphasizing the initiative’s role in cutting transportation expenses that have skyrocketed due to insecurity and post-fuel subsidy challenges.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.

Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.

The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.

To back this up, he revealed that the government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.

“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.

The event, themed “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.

Tinubu had earlier said in June that Nigeria is on the path to achieving food sovereignty on the back of measures put in place by his administration.

He said, “Our ‘Nigeria First’ policy will further enhance progress as we consolidate market-driven growth. The improved economic performance is encouraging and validates the soundness of our policy measures. Our medium-term growth target remains an economy growing at a seven per cent clip with a stronger manufacturing base. We must learn to produce and grow most of our food, and we are on the path to achieving food sovereignty.

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