Abuja, Nigeria – In a clarion call to action, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has declared food insecurity a major national emergency that demands urgent intervention from all levels of government. Describing hunger and malnutrition as formidable challenges threatening the well-being and stability of the nation, Speaker Abbas called on lawmakers across the country to take proactive legislative steps to tackle the crisis head-on.
Speaking on Tuesday during a high-level engagement with the House Committee on Food Security and Malnutrition, as well as members of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security, Abbas emphasized the critical role of Nigeria’s legislative bodies in addressing this growing concern. The meeting, held in the Speaker’s office in Abuja, underscored the urgent need for coordinated legislative action to mitigate food insecurity across the nation’s urban and rural communities.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, Speaker Abbas noted, “Nigeria’s problem is largely, in a way, food insecurity. Whatever we can do as parliamentarians to ease the burden on the people when it comes to hunger and malnutrition, we will be doing a very great service to this country.” He urged legislators not to relent in their efforts, stressing the need for consistent and intensified actions to push the country toward food sufficiency and better nutrition outcomes.
Abbas expressed pride in the impact made by the House Committee on Food Security and Malnutrition, lauding it as a historic initiative introduced for the first time in the history of Nigeria’s parliament. He noted that the success of the committee has transcended the House of Representatives, becoming a national movement embraced by all 36 Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly, with efforts now underway to extend the campaign against hunger and malnutrition to every local government area.
“This committee is no longer just the baby of the House of Representatives; it has become Nigeria’s baby, embraced by all the states. I think this is one of the few initiatives that the 10th House has created which will remain unforgettable for its positive impact on our country,” the Speaker remarked. He attributed the committee’s success to the dedication and passion of its leadership, singling out the Chairman, Hon. Chinedu Okafor, for commendation.
In his remarks, Hon. Okafor emphasized that the fight against food insecurity must go beyond the federal level. “The conversation around food security cannot start and end in Abuja,” he stated, highlighting efforts to take the advocacy to sub-national levels. He recounted a strategic meeting with the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin. The outcome of that engagement led to a pivotal retreat in Owerri, Imo State, where it was agreed that each state parliament would establish dedicated committees on food security and nutrition, and work to domesticate federal laws on these issues.
Okafor also mentioned a landmark conference held in Abuja for the chairmen and clerks of these new state-level committees, which led to the formation of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security. This network, according to Okafor, has become a powerful platform for collaboration and advocacy across the country.
Looking ahead, Okafor revealed that the network is scheduled to meet with Vice-President Senator Kashim Shettima on Wednesday to further escalate the national dialogue on food security and explore actionable strategies to alleviate hunger.
As the food crisis deepens in many parts of the country, Speaker Abbas’s call to arms highlights the gravity of the situation and the pivotal role lawmakers must play in shaping policy solutions that address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition. His appeal resonates as a powerful reminder that ensuring food security is not just an economic necessity, but a moral imperative in the quest for a healthier, more stable, and prosperous Nigeria.
