By Usman Abubakar, Maiduguri
Nigeria is ‘migrating’ from food palliatives distribution to its vulnerable communities to encouraging them to produce their own food, as part of a broad plan to evolve a sustainable food production system for the country.
Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, underscored this to newsmen at Konduga, Konduga Lacal Government Area, Borno State, after touring WFP-assisted crop farms in Konduga and Nigeriatil-Cameroon bordere Gamboru-Ngala local government areas of the state, Monday, June 30.
“I’m touring the vulnerable communities across the country,” he disclosed, explaining, “And the intent is to work with the WFP in this regard, inspect what they are doing in partnership with the federal government and see where we can come in, where the federal government can intervene to improve production.”
The minister disclosed with emphasis: “The essence of this is that we are migrating from handouts, daily food being given to the communities to encouraging them to engage in agricultural production to grow their own food.”
He stressed further: “This is what we are encouraging now,” explaining, “We are working to ensure that the food system caters for the malnourished children and their displaced parents.
The minister cited the return of refugees of Boko Haram insurgency from Cameroon and Chad back to their ancestral homes in Borno, pointing out that this development has increased pressure on the food system around Ngala, which necessitates an increase in food production and support to farmers.
“I have evaluated the the situation around Ngala – the deplorable roads leading their, insecurity, elephants menace and several other factors that affect the food system,” he disclosed, assuring that the federal government would surmount such challenges to evolve a viable food system.
