The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has labeled food insecurity as a critical national issue, stressing the need for immediate action from all levels of government to address hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday, Abbas addressed the House Committee on Food Security and Malnutrition as well as the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security at his office in Abuja. He emphasized that the problem of food insecurity is one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges, and every effort must be made to ease the burden on Nigerians suffering from hunger.
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Musa Krishi, Abbas said, “Nigeria’s biggest problem is food insecurity, and as parliamentarians, whatever steps we can take to reduce hunger and malnutrition will serve our nation well. I encourage you all to keep up the momentum and work tirelessly toward achieving a solution.”
The Speaker also expressed his pride in the success of the House’s food security initiative, which he described as the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria’s parliament. He highlighted how the initiative, supported by all 36 state Speakers, has garnered widespread support, helping to bring the issue of food insecurity to local communities across the country.
“I truly believe this initiative will leave a lasting impact on the country, and I thank the Chairman of the committee for his dedication and drive in making this possible,” Abbas added.
Chairman of the Committee on Food Security, Chinedu Okafor, also spoke, noting that the fight against food insecurity should not be confined to Abuja. Okafor shared his recent meeting with Adebo Ogundoyin, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, which led to the formation of state-level committees focused on food security. This move aims to localize federal laws and ensure they are effectively implemented in every corner of Nigeria.
The National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security, which grew out of these efforts, is now planning a crucial meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday to further discuss solutions to the nation’s food insecurity crisis.
As the conversation continues to evolve, the call for action grows louder it is clear that Nigeria’s future depends on addressing food insecurity today.
