Theme: Environmental Safety and Food Security in Central Nigeria: Finding Sustainable Solutions

PROTOCOLS

I am honoured to have received an invitation to be here with you today at this 7^th Regional Stakeholders’ Discussion on Environment and Safety (RSDES-7), a topic of immense importance, one which carries such emancipatory potential for the citizens of Nigeria. May I pay tribute to the Environment and Safety Management Institute, Nigeria for hosting this Summit.

I also sincerely want to thank the Registrar of this Noble Institute, Mrs. Evelyn Agu for entrusting me with the responsibility to be the Special Guest of Honour at this important stakeholders’ discussion. It is my earnest desire and hope that this event will be very successful.

Let me also take this opportunity to welcome the participants and other invited guests from both Nigeria and all over the world, I am optimistic that this event will serve as a catalyst for strengthening regional cooperation on issues relating to Environmental Safety and Food Security in central Nigeria in particular and in the entire country in General. This is why I remain thankful once again for the ceaseless efforts of the Environment and Safety Management Institute, Nigeria for hosting this event. Conferences such as this one provide an opportunity to talk about common challenges, share best practices, and discuss ground-breaking scientific research and evidence-based recommendations that will help in addressing the challenges of Environmental Safety and Food Security in our dear country Nigeria in order to meet up with the realities and the demands of tomorrow.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the Federal Government is aware of the urgent need to address food security issues in Nigeria, a nation which is predicted to become the world’s third most populous nation by 2050. We are also aware of the environmental challenges facing the country, such as deforestation, desertification, erosion, flooding, pollution, and biodiversity loss. I want to assure you that this government would take urgent steps to protect and restore the environment, as well as to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. We  would also implement policies and programs that would foster environmental awareness and education among Nigerians.

Nigeria currently relies on over 10 billion USD of food imports in order to meet its food and agricultural production shortfalls (mostly wheat, rice, poultry and fish). This is a sad irony as agriculture is the second most important economic activity after crude oil.

This situation can be further aggravated if environmental disasters such as flood is not urgently checked. Flooding degrades the environment and destroys crops, farm settlements, livestock, and seedling stores. This reduces harvest and affects the next planting season, culminating in a food shortage crisis. Flooding can cause massive damage to infrastructure, like the collapse of bridges and roads thereby, cutting off physical access between our farms and the markets

Similarly, anthropogenic effects such as banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, Killer Herdsmen, cattle rustling and other socio-political activities in central Nigeria have their consequence and threats to food security. These variables are largely responsible for food production shortages, which disrupts both the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Net Domestic Product (NDP)of the country. Food crops cannot be planted, weeded or harvested in crisis areas where there are attacks there by creating scarcity of food crops which in turn threaten the food security of the country. These crisis, if not urgently addressed can threaten the security of the region, reduced its economic  productivity, and deepened food crisis in Nigeria.

Furthermore, Insurgency has posed serious security challenges for the nation as it affects foreign as well as indigenous investments, thereby hampering economic growth and leaving the country to face escalating unemployment, loss of lives and properties. This and other social maladies present a negative image on the country and undermine the national security. No country weather developed or developing can thrive economically, socially and politically in an environment of insecurity. That is why the issue of insurgencies as a threat to national security and development should be given serious attention.

Fellow Nigerians, ladies and gentlemen, No matter the gains in policy implementation in the area of food production, a single flooding event can reverse them. It is therefore, pertinent for all stakeholders to pay more attention to environmental changes such as floods – set to rise in the coming years due to climate change and take immediate actions to control flooding. A more comprehensive approach to addressing food insecurity is needed and this must encompass flood prevention and mitigation.

Many food security programmes and policies currently focus on food availabilityby seeking to increase production while neglecting other areas. The lack of consideration of the role of flooding, kidnapping, banditry and other forms of insurgency causing food insecurity is a significant oversight that needs to be addressed if food security is to be guaranteed in central Nigeria.

As a government, we must admit that even though we are investing a lot in boosting food production in Nigeria since the inception of this administration in line with the 8 points agenda of Mr. President, national and regional information sharing among stakeholders can provide timely and credible data, statistics and analysis which are essential for effective formulation of food production policies and programmes, food security preparedness, crisis mitigation, and response planning.

Thankfully, as a hands-on- leader who follows developments across the country every day, the President His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not unmindful of the rising cost of food and how it affects the citizens. Accordingly, in line with this administration’s position on ensuring that the most vulnerable are supported, Mr President declared, with immediate effect the following actions:

• That a state of emergency on food security be announced immediately, and
• That all matters pertaining to food & water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.

The immediate intervention strategies are as follows:

1. The immediate release of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.
2. The urgent synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure adequate irrigation of farmlands and to guarantee that food is produced all-year round.

To achieve this, we have the following stakeholders on board to support the intervention effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: The National Commodity Exchange (NCX), Seed Companies, National Seed Council and Research institutes, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, Food Processing/ Agric Processing associations, private sector holders & Prime Anchors, smallholder farmers, crop associations and Fertilizer producers, blenders and suppliers associations to mention a few.

iii. The full engagement of our security architecture to protect the farms and the farmers so that they can return to their farmlands without fear of attacks. This administration will remain vigilant in devising solutions to mitigate their impact and enhance national security. As part of moves to deal decisively with the criminal elements, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has embarked on a new era in the country’s national defence and security strategy. He has directed all heads of defence and security institutions to unite in their efforts to protect our nation’s integrity and well-being from any form of aggression.

It is also instructive to note that a National Strategic Plan for Flood Management in Nigeria has been developed in collaboration with other stakeholders and has been submitted to Mr President. The plan entails mechanisms for flood mitigation and financing. It integrates structural and non-structural measures, ecosystem needs, and envisages the active participation of government at all levels, communities and the private sector.

Principally, one of the major positive outcomes of these interventions will be a massive boost in employment and job creation. Indeed, agriculture already accounts for about 35.21 per cent of employment in Nigeria (as at 2021), the target is to double this percentage to about 70% in the long term.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, this administration understands that food and water are the bedrock of survival and therefore is calling on all Nigerians to partner with it in ensuring the success of this strategic interventions. We are working assiduously to ensure that Nigerians do not struggle with their essential needs.

The Federal Government wishes to use this medium to continue to assure Nigerians that it will not relent in its efforts until all strategic interventions are deployed efficiently and effectively in addressing Environmental Safety and also guaranteeing Food Security until every household is positively impacted. Our president is the president of all Nigerians and the father of the nation. The renewed hope mandate remains alive and no one, absolutely no one, will be left behind.

I want to call on all Nigerians to join hands with this administration in building a new Nigeria that would be a source of pride and inspiration for generations to come. Nigeria has overcomed many obstacles in its history, I therefore, implore us all to exhibit the same capacity and resilience to overcome our current challenges.

Thank you for your kind attention, may God bless our great nation, Nigeria.

Sen. Dr. George Akume CON

Secretary to the Government of the Federation

Federal Republic of Nigeria.