Speaking during the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu urged state governors to work together to meet the needs of Nigerians.
The President stated that he was willing to provide the needed support to ensure that Nigerians were delivered from hardship.
Consequently, the President approved the immediate rollout of the National Construction and Household Support Programme to cover all the six geo-political zones in the country.
Tinubu gave the governors seven days to submit to his office the lists of the support required by their states to ameliorate the suffering of the people. He also charged them to meet targets on food security.
Items approved by the President under the National Construction and Household Support Programme included one-off allocation to states and the Federal Capital Territory of N10 billion for the procurement of buses and CNG uplift programme.
Others included delivery of N50,000 uplift grant each to 100,000 families per state for three months; provision for labour unions and civil society organisations; and deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and sale of assorted foodstuff to be distributed across the country.
We are constrained to note that the President’s decision to deploy ₦115 billion for the purchase and distribution of foodstuffs is well-intentioned but flawed.
It is our opinion that short-term handouts are not the solution to Nigeria’s hunger crisis. Instead, the government should focus on revitalizing the agricultural sector, enhancing the capabilities of the Bank of Agriculture, and fostering cooperation between relevant agencies.
Addressing the issue of open grazing through ranching and state policing is also crucial. By adopting these pragmatic approaches, Nigeria can achieve sustainable food security and improve the overall well-being of its citizens.
“Distributing food and cash to states through governors, as seen in previous efforts, has not yielded significant or sustainable results. The fundamental issue lies in the nature of these handouts—they are temporary fixes that do not address the root causes of hunger and poverty. Once the distributed food is consumed, the underlying problems remain unchanged.”
Distributing food and cash to states through governors, as seen in previous efforts, has not yielded significant or sustainable results. The fundamental issue lies in the nature of these handouts—they are temporary fixes that do not address the root causes of hunger and poverty. Once the distributed food is consumed, the underlying problems remain unchanged.
Rather than focusing on occasional handouts, the Federal Government should adopt a more pragmatic approach to tackle the unprecedented hunger and suffering in the country. This calls for a shift in focus from short-term relief to long-term solutions aimed at boosting productivity and ensuring food security.
The agricultural sector remains a critical area that, if properly harnessed, can yield substantial benefits. To achieve meaningful transformation, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture must undergo significant reforms. This involves not only restructuring the ministry but also implementing innovative programmes and schemes that can drive productivity and sustainability.
At the moment, Nigeria needs a Minister of Agriculture who has the intellectual capacity to drive home the reforms needed to overcome the hunger crisis in the country.
The Bank of Agriculture plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities. However, it appears that the bank has deviated from its mandate.
The Federal Government should take steps to enhance the operational and financial capabilities of the BOA, ensuring it can effectively support farmers and agribusinesses. By providing adequate funding and resources, the BOA can help stimulate agricultural production and contribute to national food security.
Also, the National Directorate of Employment is another government agency that requires immediate attention. By creating synergy between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the BOA, and the NDE, the government can foster a collaborative approach to address food security. Such cooperation can lead to the implementation of comprehensive programmes that not only boost food production but also create employment opportunities, thereby reducing poverty and hunger.
One of the significant challenges facing agricultural productivity in Nigeria is the issue of open grazing. The practice of open grazing often leads to conflicts between farmers and herders, resulting in the destruction of crops and loss of livestock.
Prohibiting open grazing and promoting ranching as an alternative can mitigate these conflicts and enhance agricultural productivity. Furthermore, implementing state policing can help enforce laws and regulations related to grazing, ensuring a peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
Ranching offers a sustainable solution to the problem of open grazing. By establishing ranches, herders can raise their livestock in controlled environments, reducing the risk of conflicts with farmers. Additionally, state policing can play a crucial role in maintaining law and order, ensuring that innovative agricultural initiatives are implemented smoothly.
Nigeria and Nigerians have been enduring a subsisting epidemic that has stubbornly refused to go away. That epidemic is hunger which has become a native, traversing homes, offices, markets, everywhere.
Hunger is a major fallout of the bad governance of the past administration under President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari’s negative and punitive footprints cut across every sector of the nation’s economy and inflicted deep pains on the citizens.
In spite of everything, President Tinubu is seen as a philanthropist who cares about people, especially the less privileged. As the president of a largely hungry people now, time has come for him to rise to the occasion and end hunger in the land so that he can lead a healthy nation with a happy citizenry.
As President Tinubu enters the second year of his tenure, there is an urgent need for pragmatic and sustainable solutions to end the issues of hunger and food insecurity.
The stewardship report by May next year will likely reflect the success or failure of the current administration’s policies. To avoid a disappointing outcome, the government must prioritize long-term strategies that address the root causes of hunger and promote agricultural productivity.
