Shettima: FG’s commitment to food sufficiency not mere rhetoric

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to prioritising nutrition as part of Nigeria’s food security drive.

Shettima spoke on Tuesday at a high-level dialogue on nutrition held at the State House in Abuja.

The one-day dialogue with the theme “Faith leaders as catalysts for enhanced human capital through nutrition” was organised by the National Council on Nutrition and the World Bank-assisted accelerating nutrition results in Nigeria.

At the event, Shettima unveiled a plan to improve nutrition across Nigeria.

The vice-president said Nigeria’s future readiness hinges not just on food abundance but on the nourishing quality of its food supply.

He appealed to the religious and traditional leaders at the event, calling them “prime cultural influencers” and a “gateway to a Nigeria defined by mutual understanding, peace, unity, and social cohesion”.

“We must proclaim to the world that our commitment to producing food of unparalleled richness is not rhetoric,” he said.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated his commitment to prioritizing nutrition as an integral component of our quest for food sufficiency. This is our inspiration to implement quality, cost-effective nutrition services.

“From providing support to pregnant and lactating women to ensuring the well-being of adolescent girls and children under five years of age, President Tinubu’s vision has propelled us towards a future where every Nigerian has access to the nourishment they need to thrive.”

Shettima said the government cannot succeed alone as it depends on the support and guidance of those who wield influence within “our communities” to drive this change.