Buhari signs establishment of National Food Security Council

President Muhammad Buhari approves the membership constitution for the National Food Security Council in Nigeria.

The President gave the approval yesterday, after he announced the intention of the Federal Government to establish the council.

The approval was announced in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu in a statement revealing the intention of the Federal Government to establish the council.

According to the statement, the council which will be inaugurated on Monday is to be head by the President while its members will include the governors of Kebbi, Taraba, Plateau, Lagos, Ebonyi and Delta states respectively.

Other Members are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, the National Security Adviser and seven cabinet ministers.

The ministers to be represented are: Agriculture and Rural Development; Finance; Interior; Industry, Trade and Investment; Water Resources; Environment; as well as Budget and National Planning.

The National Food Security Council will also have as members, the Chief of Defence Staff; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; the Directors-General of the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency, as well as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

The purpose of the Council will include developing sustainable solutions to the farmers–herdsmen clashes, as well as climate change and desertification and their impact on farmland.

The Council also intends to address the aspects of grazing areas and lakes, rivers and other water bodies; oil spillage and its impact on Niger Delta fishing communities; piracy and banditry; agricultural research institutions and extension services and smuggling problems.

The Presidency disclosed that the Council would also take interest in regional and global policies and trends that bear implications for food security in the country.