Davos: Nigeria Strengthening Strategy on Food Security – Shetima

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria now views food security as a fundamental macroeconomic, security, and governance issue, not merely an agricultural concern.

He made the remarks at a high-level panel on ‘When Food Becomes Security’ during the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

According to a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, he said the Federal Government has launched a multi-dimensional agricultural drive aimed at insulating the nation from global shocks while restoring productivity in key food-producing regions.

“In Nigeria, we don’t look at food security purely as an agricultural issue. It is a macroeconomic, security and governance issue. Our focus is to use food security as a pillar for national security, regional cohesion and stability,” Shettima said.

He said the country’s food security strategy now rests on increasing food production, driving environmental sustainability, and deepening regional integration within West Africa.

He noted that global supply chain disruptions have compelled Nigeria to rebuild resilient food systems tailored to its diverse ecological zones.

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“Nigeria is a very large country, and there is an incestuous relationship between economy and ecology. In the Sahelian North, we are dealing with desertification, deforestation and drought. In the riverine South and parts of the North Central, flooding is our major challenge,” Shettima said.

The Vice President hinted further that the government is promoting drought-resistant, flood-tolerant, and early-maturing varieties of staple crops such as rice, sorghum, and millet, while redesigning food systems in flood-prone southern areas to withstand climate shocks.

He noted that security remains a major constraint, especially since many conflict-affected regions are also Nigeria’s primary food-producing areas.

“Most of the food baskets of our nation are security-challenged. That is why we are creating food security corridors and strengthening community-based security engagements so farmers can return safely to their land,” Shettima said.

He pointed out that the government has launched the Back to the Farm Initiative, designed to resettle displaced farmers by providing agricultural inputs, insurance, and access to capital.

The Vice President also noted that import dependence and foreign exchange volatility are major drivers of food inflation.

“We largely import wheat, sugar and dairy products, and this has a direct impact on inflation. Our strategy is to accelerate local production and promote substitutes such as sorghum, millet and cassava flour to correct these structural imbalances,” Shettima said.

He urged African nations to deepen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as Nigeria’s approach aligns food security with national stability, inflation control, and regional cooperation.

He expressed optimism that ongoing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda would boost climate adaptation and expand intra-African trade beyond the current 10.7 per cent.

Pinnacle Daily reports that the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had at the Nigeria House in Davos urged the Nigerian government to deliberately target global investors and supply chain relocations to reduce import dependence, deepen manufacturing, and create jobs.

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