FG Reaffirms Commitment to Food Security as Minister of Agriculture Chairs High-Level Meeting on Climate Resilient Initiative
The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, has reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to ensuring food security in Nigeria. The Minister made this assurance while chairing a high-level meeting on the Presentation of the Integrated Climate Resilient Initiative Project (I-CRIP).
The meeting, which took place at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, had in attendance the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON; the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha; the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu; delegation from Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA); representative of the Honourable Minister of Environment; as well as Permanent Secretaries from the relevant ministries.
Discussions focused on the implementation of the I-CRIP, a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience in Nigeria’s agricultural sector through sustainable practices, technological innovations, and policy-driven interventions. The project is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to mitigate the impacts of climate change on food production, ensure efficient resource utilization, and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
As part of the deliberations, renowned renewable energy consultant, Professor Kishore Koka, made a Zoom presentation on improving dairy production in Nigeria and securing more climate change funds. He provided detailed insights on how Nigeria’s dairy production could be tripled, significantly increasing foreign exchange earnings and contributing to economic growth. His recommendations emphasized innovative dairy farming techniques, value chain optimization, and strategic investments in climate-smart livestock production.
Reaffirming the administration’s dedication to food security, Senator Kyari emphasized that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda prioritizes agricultural transformation as a key pillar for national development. He assured stakeholders that the government would continue to foster collaborations that drive climate-smart agriculture and improve food production systems.
The Honourable Minister commended the commitment of all stakeholders present and reiterated the need for a holistic, multi-sectoral approach to addressing the challenges posed by climate change in the agricultural sector. He urged continued synergy between relevant ministries, agencies, and partners to ensure the successful implementation of the I-CRIP initiative for the benefit of Nigerian farmers and the nation at large.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the next steps for rolling out the initiative, with an emphasis on policy alignment, review of the concept note presented by NIHSA, resource mobilization, and stakeholder engagement to achieve sustainable food security in Nigeria.
