As the global community commemorates World Food Day 2025, the Senate has reiterated its commitment to supporting policies that promote agricultural development, food sufficiency, and sustainable livelihoods for every Nigerian.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha, stated this in Abuja while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the activities marking the World Food Day.
He assured that the 10th Senate, under the leadership of Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, remains committed to working with the executive to strengthen food security.
“The World Food Day is not merely a day of celebration, but a call to action, a call on all stakeholders to redouble their efforts in building a greener environment and positioning Nigeria as a true food basket of Africa and the world,” Senator Mustapha said.
He stressed that agriculture must become the pivot of Nigeria’s economic diversification, especially as the nation continues to seek alternatives to oil and gas revenues.
Senator Mustapha called for concerted and sustainable investments at all levels of government, particularly in crops value chains where States have natural comparative advantages.
“We have to revive our agricultural heritage; cocoa in the South-West, groundnut pyramid in the North, and palm oil in the East. If we get the fundamentals right; improved seeds, access to land, and modern agronomic practices, Nigeria can once again become a leading agricultural powerhouse,” he added.
The lawmaker noted that increased agricultural investments at the federal, state, and local government levels would not only ensure food sufficiency but also drive industrialization, create jobs, and boost non-oil exports.
He emphasized that this year’s World Food Day serves as a reminder of the global call to achieve Zero Hunger (SDG 2) by 2030, urging Nigeria and other developing nations to adopt policies that support smallholder farmers, enhance mechanization, and address post-harvest losses.
Senator Mustapha commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for implementing policies aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural sector through food production initiatives, credit access, and investment in rural infrastructure.
While acknowledging the efforts of security agencies in protecting lives and property, the lawmaker called for intensified collaboration to address banditry, kidnapping, and other security challenges that have forced many farmers to desert their farmlands.
He said, “Without a secure environment, there can be no sustainable agriculture. Food security depends on national security.”
Senator Mustapha reaffirmed the commitment of Nigeria to international efforts to achieve sustainable agricultural development, calling for stronger public-private partnerships, regional cooperation, and innovation-driven solutions to end hunger and malnutrition in Africa.
“Our collective goal should be to ensure that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry. Agriculture is not just an economic activity; it is a matter of national survival and pride,” he added.
END