VP Shettima unveils Nigeria’s macro food security strategy at Davos

By Kunle Sanni –

Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced a shift in Nigeria’s approach to food security, describing it as a core macroeconomic, security and governance issue rather than a narrow agricultural concern.

Shettima made this known while speaking at a high-level panel titled “When Food Becomes Security” at the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

According to the Vice President, the Federal Government has launched a multi-dimensional agricultural strategy aimed at insulating Nigeria from global supply shocks, curbing food inflation and restoring productivity in the country’s major 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,” Shettima said, noting that food security is now being treated as a strategic pillar for national security, economic stability and regional cohesion.

He explained that Nigeria’s food security framework rests on three pillars: boosting food production, ensuring environmental sustainability and strengthening regional integration within West Africa.

Shettima said global disruptions and supply chain challenges have forced Nigeria to rebuild resilient food systems tailored to its diverse ecological zones. He highlighted climate-related challenges such as desertification and drought in the Sahelian North, as well as flooding in the riverine South and parts of the North Central region.

To address these challenges, he disclosed that the government is promoting drought-resistant, flood-tolerant and early-maturing crop varieties, including rice, sorghum and millet, while redesigning food systems in flood-prone areas to withstand climate shocks.

Security challenges, he added, remain a major obstacle, as many conflict-affected regions are also key food baskets.