Edun calls for revamp in agricultural strategy, reaffirms food security

By Matthew Denis, Abuja

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has reiterated the Federal Government’s dedication to achieving food security, while advocating for a more adaptive and resilient framework in agricultural policy and planning.

Speaking in Abuja at the inaugural meeting of the Agricultural Sector Working Group (ASWG), Mr Edun urged stakeholders to align Nigeria’s agricultural roadmap with the post-Malabo agenda. He underlined the need to raise productivity, broaden access to agricultural finance, and unlock the potential of value-added exports.

Edun described agriculture as pivotal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic strategy, assuring participants that the Ministry of Finance would offer its full backing to sector-wide reform and growth.

“The agricultural sector must be responsive to both local needs and global opportunities,” he said. “We must move with urgency and coordination to transform the sector in line with national and continental food security targets.”

The ASWG, which brings together representatives from across relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, has been tasked with fostering cross-sector collaboration and delivering measurable outcomes in the drive for food security and sustainable development.

The initiative is positioned as a crucial element of the government’s broader strategy to stimulate inclusive economic growth and lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty. The Finance Ministry’s active involvement signals a renewed focus on integrating fiscal policy with sector-specific planning to achieve long-term impact.

Stakeholders welcomed the move as a necessary catalyst for reform in a sector long constrained by fragmentation and underinvestment. With the new working group in place, expectations are high for a more unified approach that will lead to lasting improvements in agricultural productivity, food affordability, and rural livelihoods.