President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration’s commitment to ensuring self-sufficiency in food production and stability in prices of commodities in the country.
Buhari gave the assurance in a statement at the launch of Outgrow Hunger, Nigeria, an initiative of a non-governmental organisation, Agricultural Agenda Nigeria Initiative (AANI).
The AANI is founded by Mr. Ephraim Odemwingie.
According to a statement issued by the President’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, the campaign was launched on World Food Day, observed on October 16 every year.
The statement noted that the theme of this year’s celebration, which coincided with, commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), is: ”Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together. Our Actions Are Our Future”
Welcoming the campaign by the AANI, President Buhari declared that the objectives and strategies of Outgrow Hunger, Nigeria complement government’s policies, programmes and efforts on food security.
The statement quoted him as saying: ”We are all familiar with the many factors that have constrained efforts to ensure self-sufficiency in food production in the country, leading to the present situation of fluctuating prices of foodstuffs.
”Despite the best efforts that have been made, the challenges persist. But so have we, as a government, persisted in finding solutions, guided by the strong belief that, with the natural and human resources our country is endowed with, starvation is inexcusable.”
Noting that the issue of food security affects everyone, the President affirmed his administration’s belief in the efficacy of shared responsibilities.
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”As the saying goes, a hungry person is an angry person. No country can afford a population of hungry people,” he stated.
President Buhari directed relevant government ministries, departments and agencies to explore opportunities, from the perspectives of their different mandates, to support the campaign.
He also called on relevant agencies of State and local governments to join in the campaign to keep its momentum alive during its two-year span.
According to the statement, the President told the organisers that he was looking forward to personal participation in the campaign, adding: ”Together, we must outgrow hunger in Nigeria. It is in our common interest to do so.”