President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday urged Nigerians to adopt mechanized farming to address hunger and food insecurity.
Tinubu gave the call during his presidential address to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independent Day celebration.
Recall In 2023, Nigeria was included among the global “hunger hotspots” by the World Food Programme, a development linked to rising insecurity in agricultural regions and soaring costs of essential farming inputs.
Speaking on the hunger pandemic, the president acknowledged the high cost of living, especially food costs as the central concern of Nigerians today.
He said, “This concern is shared by many around the globe as prices and the cost of living continue to rise worldwide.
“My fellow Nigerians, be assured that we are implementing many measures to reduce the cost of living here at home.
“I commend the Governors particularly, in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the Southwest Governors that have embraced our agricultural production programme. I urge other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanised farming.
“We are playing our part by supplying fertilizer and making tractors and other farm equipment available”.
He recalled that the Federal Executive Council had approved establishing a local assembling plant for 2000 John Deere tractors in September 2024.
The president urged citizens to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion as various policies to stabilise the economy and secure the country are in motion.