Food Security: Tinubu Vows to Dismantle Barriers in Agriculture Sector

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to food security by pledging to remove longstanding barriers obstructing Nigeria’s agricultural growth, particularly in livestock production.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at Copacabana Forte, Brazil, Tinubu said his government is determined to unlock Nigeria’s agricultural potential and transform the sector into a globally competitive industry.

The President’s remarks were contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

“Excessive bureaucracy has stifled progress in agriculture,” Tinubu said. “We are implementing reforms to streamline the system and open up the sector to global partnerships.”

He emphasized agriculture as a natural area of competitive advantage for Nigeria, highlighting livestock, poultry, fisheries, and cattle rearing as key focus points for boosting food supply and job creation.

In his address, Tinubu praised Brazil’s strides in agricultural research and food exports, describing the South American country as a global model. He also assured that all technical issues affecting bilateral agreements between the two countries would be resolved to facilitate smoother cooperation in trade, aviation, energy transition, agriculture, and mining.

“We will streamline and fast-track all technicalities in our bilateral agreements to promote progress in food and agricultural development,” the President stated.

He further called for immediate action from both federal and state governments to scale up food production and position agriculture as a major source of employment and national revenue.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva echoed Tinubu’s urgency and pledged to revise existing agreements and remove bureaucratic barriers that hamper cooperation. He promised that Brazilian institutions would partner with Nigeria to enhance its livestock systems.

Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, reaffirmed the President’s commitment to food sovereignty, noting that Nigeria’s fertiliser production capacity gives it a strategic edge for agricultural growth.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, outlined three key areas of collaboration between Nigeria and Brazil—animal health, sanitation, and genetic research—as priorities for achieving shared goals in livestock development.