In its quest to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, the federal government has said it is ready to make the nation’s food systems more resilient, responsive and sustainable.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Nebeolisa Anako, made the declaration while speaking at the Pre-Food System Stock Taking Moments in Abuja on Wednesday.
Anako who pointed out that the Ministry is working towards ensuring equity, inclusivity, livelihood opportunities, youth and gender mainstreaming in national development plans as part of the ‘leaving no one behind’ imperatives of the SDGs.
He added that the event was therefore organized for stakeholders in the food value chain, including the private sector, civil society, farmers, women and youth in the rural farming communities and development partners bearing in mind the spirits of leaving No one behind.
Anako recalled that in 2020, the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, called on all countries to come up with modalities for improving their food systems in accordance with goals and targets of the SDGs.
Guterres, he added, also tasked the countries to make their food systems more resilient, responsive and sustainable in the process of achieving the SDGs.
The Permanent Secretary noted that in response to the call, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning coordinated all stakeholders in the food value chain in Nigeria to come up with solutions to address the challenges in the systems.
According to him, Guterres’ call emanated from the fact that the world risk not achieving the Sustainable Development Goals if urgent steps are not taken, adding that the 10 years-2020 to 2030, was declared as the Decade of Action for the achievement of the SDGs.
“Looking at Food as a Basic Right and with growing Food and Nutrition insecurity, the Secretary General envisioned that adequate food and proper nutrition is central to achieving the SDGs.
“As a matter of fact, nation, communities and households are food secured when everyone has access to healthy diets at all times and at a price that is affordable and according to their preferences for a productive live. Obviously, this is a challenge in most settings.
“In line with the directives of the Secretary General, Nigeria organized 40 Dialogues between January to July, 2021 with the participation of the over 4,000 stakeholders drawn from the government, Organized private sector, civil society, farmers, women and youth, children, rural farming communities, fishermen and development partners.
“After the series of dialogues all the stakeholder’s ideas and suggestions for transforming the food systems were synthesized into about 80 Recommendations. The preliminary report of the Dialogues was presented at the Food Systems Pre-summit that took place in Rome in July, 2021.
“This stock taking moment also Tagged UNFSS+ 2 marks two years since the meeting in Rome. While the final report was presented by the then President Muhammad Buhari, in New York on the 23rd September, 2021 in New-York,” he said.
According to the Permanent Secretary, in collaborating with states, the federal government is taking the bull by the horn with a view to implementing the recommendations which phased the implementation processes into short and long terms, with roles and responsibility of Stakeholders clearly defined.
Also Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, represented by the Director of Nutrition and Food Security, Sugura Mahmood, said there is need for collective efforts to solve the food security crises in the country.
He highlighted the possibility of renewable energy mechanisation as a prospect for having sustainable food system.
Convener, United Nations Forum on Sustainable Standards, UNFSS, Dr Sanjo Faniran, noted that food systems transformation is non-negotiable.
He therefore charged stakeholders in the education sector to re-introduced gardening in schools across Nigeria, while at the same time collaborating with major stakeholders, including private farmers in the zones, for training and mentoring youth in Nigeria amongst others