He has instructed that matters related to food and water be included under the purview of the National Security Council.
During a briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, revealed that immediate actions will be taken to support farmers and households. This includes the prompt distribution of fertilizers and grains to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal.
Alake also highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to agriculture, integrating the Ministry of Agriculture and water resources to facilitate year-round farming through effective irrigation. President Tinubu stressed that the country can no longer afford seasonal farming and called for continuous food production.
In addition, the federal government will collaborate with willing states to establish ranches, with dedicated grazing reserves, and the government will bear the cost of acquiring the land. Furthermore, the government plans to activate nationwide land banks, totaling 500,000 hectares, to expand the availability of arable land for farming and increase food output.
To address rising food prices, the Central Bank has advised middlemen to release their grain supplies, as prices are expected to stabilize once the government begins distribution.
The briefing, attended by officials including Zacch Adedeji, Special Adviser on Revenue, John Uwajimogu, Special Adviser on Industry, Trade, and Investment, and Wale Adeniyi, the acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, aimed to update the public on the Tinubu-led administration's immediate response to the country's food inflation challenge.
He said, “As a hands-on- leader who follows developments across the country everyday, Mr. President is not unmindful of the rising cost of food and how it affects the citizens.
"While availability is not a problem, affordability has been a major issue to many Nigerians in all parts of the country. This has led a significant drop in demand thereby undermining the viability of the entire agriculture and food value chain."
