Abuja, Sept. 11, 2025 – President Bola Tinubu has ordered immediate measures to ensure food sufficiency and price reduction across the country.
Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, said this on Wednesday at a workshop on parliamentary reporting for journalists in Abuja.
He said the directive focused on ensuring the safe passage of farm produce across routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a federal executive council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country.
“In addressing the high cost of transportation of farm produce in the country, I can say it on good authority to you that the President has given a marching order to a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it, on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural goods and commodities across our various routes in the country.
“We are aware, and I’m sure as media, you are also aware, that there are routes through which commodities are taken before they are delivered, if you know the amount of money that is being spent, you can now understand why those commodities have to be expensive at the point of delivery.
“So, we are working very hard. We are doing quite a lot. But I’ve just given you a snippet because I’m here, and I felt we should look at that,” he said.
The minister said the federal government was committed to rolling out a “Farmer Soil Health Scheme” to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiatives to mobilise and empower rural farmers.
“We are having what we call the Farmer Soil Health Scheme and that is ready for launch. We are just waiting for the date.
“Another important part I would like you to take note of very seriously is that we are promoting, or we are having what you call, cooperative reform and revamp programme,” he said.
The minister said the president had shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members.
“The principle of cooperative is clear and is democratic, yet it is also very productive. We are reforming this.
“There’s a number of things we are doing there and I will urge you, as a Press Corps, to consider forming a cooperative,” he said.
