Shettima Outlines Nigeria’s Bold New Strategy for Food Security and Economic Stability at Davos
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria has shifted its approach to food security, moving it from a basic agricultural concern to a core pillar of macroeconomic policy, national security, and governance. Speaking at a high-level panel titled “When Food Becomes Security” during the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Vice President emphasized that the Federal Government is now treating food production as a strategic shield against global economic shocks and a primary tool for curbing inflation.
He noted that under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria is aggressively rebuilding its agricultural base to insulate the economy from foreign exchange volatility caused by an over-reliance on food imports like wheat and sugar.
To achieve this, the Vice President unveiled the “Back to the Farm” initiative, a comprehensive program designed to resettle displaced farmers and provide them with the necessary inputs, insurance, and capital to restart production. Acknowledging that many of Nigeria’s primary food-producing regions are currently hindered by instability, Shettima explained that the government is establishing dedicated food security corridors and strengthening community-based security to ensure farmers can return to their land safely.
He stressed that the “incestuous relationship” between economy and ecology in Nigeria means the government must develop climate-resilient systems, specifically promoting drought-resistant and flood-tolerant crop varieties tailored to the unique challenges of the Sahelian North and the riverine South.
Beyond domestic production, Shettima positioned Nigeria’s agricultural revival as a catalyst for regional stability and trade. He urged African leaders to deepen integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that intra-African trade is no longer just an option but a necessity in the face of shifting global supply chains.
By promoting local substitutes such as sorghum and cassava flour, the government aims to correct structural imbalances that have long fueled food inflation. With the Renewed Hope Agenda in full swing, the Vice President expressed confidence that Nigeria’s smallholder farmers will become “investable at scale” within the next year, signaling a major turning point for the nation’s economic and food sovereignty.
