National Coordinator of the Asiwaju Again Renewed Hope Support Initiative 2027 and National President of the APC Initiative for Good Governance (APC-IGG), Amb. Musa Muhammed Tsoken, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, over the reported reduction of prices of some essential food commodities by up to 50 per cent nationwide.
Tsoken described the development as a significant indication of progress in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen food production, improve food affordability and enhance national food security.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, disclosed the reported reduction on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, while declaring open the Community of Practice Meeting of Commissioners for Agriculture, Health, Environment and Rural Development.
The meeting, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government and supported by Germany, was held under the theme, “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria.”
Kyari said the Federal Government’s responsibility was to translate President Tinubu’s food-security agenda into increased production, greater affordability, stronger rural economies and a more resilient food system.
Reacting to the development, Tsoken said the reported reduction in food prices demonstrated the importance of sustained investment in agriculture and the need to continue strengthening domestic food production.
He said the development should be viewed within the context of several interventions by the Federal Government, including increased access to agricultural inputs, support for smallholder farmers, mechanisation, rural infrastructure and value-chain development.
According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, more than 1.9 million bags of fertiliser had been distributed to nearly one million farmers, while the 2025 Agricultural Performance Survey conducted by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) recorded higher output of major staples, including rice, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, yam and cassava, compared with 2024.
The 2025 NAERLS survey also reported increased production of major staples and a significant decline in food prices across the country’s agricultural zones, although it identified continuing challenges, including climate-related risks.
Tsoken said the agricultural interventions also had implications beyond food production, arguing that food security was closely connected to national security and social stability.
He noted that improved agricultural productivity and stronger rural economies could create more economic opportunities for young people and reduce vulnerabilities that could be exploited by criminal and extremist groups.
“Food security is national security. A country that is able to produce sufficient food for its people strengthens not only its economy but also its social stability and resilience,” Tsoken said.
He commended Kyari for what he described as his focus on increasing agricultural production, improving farmers’ access to inputs and strengthening Nigeria’s food system.
Tsoken also urged Nigerians to continue supporting agriculture, particularly local production, while calling for sustained collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, farmers, private investors, development partners and other stakeholders.
He said the reported reduction in food prices should encourage further investment in agriculture rather than lead to complacency.
“Let us continue to produce, invest and support policies that strengthen our food system. The gains recorded so far must be sustained and expanded so that affordable and nutritious food becomes increasingly accessible to Nigerians,” he said.
The APC-IGG National President further described agriculture as a critical component of Nigeria’s broader national security architecture, stressing that efforts to address food insecurity should go hand in hand with employment creation, rural development and improved livelihoods.
He expressed optimism that continued implementation of agricultural reforms would strengthen food production and contribute to the Federal Government’s broader food-security objectives.
I kept the “Minister of Agriculture as, by extension, Minister of Security” argument as Tsoken’s attributed analysis rather than as a factual headline claim. This makes the story read more like a publishable news report while preserving the political message and his advocacy position.