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President Muhammadu Buhari Monday admits the country has been very turbulent under his reign as he inaugurates the National Council on Food Security.
Speaking while formerly inaugurating the National Council on Food Security at the Presidential Villa, on Monday, the President said ” Nigeria’s journey in the last three (3) years, has been a very turbulent one”
The President however said his administration was doing everything necessary to stabilize the country and improve the nation’s economy.
“The country’s need for critical job creating sectors which has been ignored for decades is now beginning to yield results”
President Buhari promised to develop “new programs and projects that will protect and indeed, create more jobs in farming, fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry”
He listed some of the policies put in place to ensure food security to include efforts to reverse Lake Chad Basin shrinkage and issuance of the first ever green bond that will act as a catalyst for investments in renewable energy and afforestation projects.
“This was oversubscribed, sharing market confidence in the country and our Government”
“We established the Agro Rangers Unit within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect the billions of naira of investments recorded in Nigeria’s agricultural sector across the country.”
He also listed the introduction of the National Social Investment Programs targeting millions of Nigerians who are living from hand to mouth and the launching of agricultural programs focusing on import substitution, job creation and rural development thereby bringing socio-economic transformation to the millions of citizens living in some of the most remote rural parts of our country.
“We commenced the long term Pollution Remediation Projects in the Niger Delta with the hope of restoring dignity and normalcy to the millions of Nigerians impacted by decades of pollution in their communities. Fishing and farming will resume once blighted areas are rehabilitated.”
“As we all know, land is use for farming, grazing and forestry, Water is used for irrigation, livestock sustenance and fishing. Therefore, any strategy for land and water management must take into account the interconnectivity of all these key sectors to ensure equity and sustainability”
The President also listed challenges to be tackled to include Population growth, Urbanisation, Industrialization, Rural Infrastructure Development and Climate Change, as part of plans to ensure food security.
“We are well aware that the full results will not be felt or seen overnight. The journey is long. It is therefore our collective duty to ensure the actual and potential positive impacts of these programs are sustained, improved and expanded.”
Farmers and herdsmen clashes had threaten to derail food security across the country with thousands of farmers abandoning their farms.
But the Chief of Army Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, who briefed State House Correspondents after the inauguration of National Council on Food Security at the Presidential Villa, said the Army has been mandated to “step up operation under the new arrangements to ensure protection for farmers to ensure food security”
The Army Chief said the military was aware of security challenges facing the nation and listed such challenges to include: farmers – herders clashes and militancy, which he said all had direct effects on food value chain.
” The job of the military is to ensure that a safe environment is guaranteed for food production” and listed measures put in place by the armed forces to achieve such a safe environment to include operations lafiya dole, nawase in Niger Delta, sarendaji in North-west and safe haven in Jos, North-central.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
