The Nigerian military has vowed to not limit its commitment to the war against insecurity in the country. It says that it will also give the necessary muscle to the battle against food insecurity. The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said this in Akwa Ibom on Tuesday. He spoke about the moves by the Nigerian Army to review its agricultural policy in the coming days in support of government efforts towards resolving food security challenges in the country.
Lagbaja, in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the week-long Chief of Army Staff’s Combined Second and Third Quarters Conference 2024, held in Uyo, said the Army Headquarters was reviewing some proposals for partnerships with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government and reputable private organisations on how best to collaborate to resolve Nigeria’s food crisis.
The COAS noted that recent protests in the country which were primarily driven by discontent over economic issues and government policies reminded them (the Army) that as an Armed Force, they must not only focus on physical security and defence of the nation as food and social security issues could also snowball into physical security challenges.
In His words, “Aside from the known threats of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, illegal mining, and farmer/herder crises, the recent protests in the Country, which were primarily driven by discontent over economic issues and government policies, resulted in significant unrest and, in some cases, violence.
“This situation reminded us that as an Armed Force, we must not only focus on physical security and defence of the nation but that food and social security issues can snowball into physical security challenges.
“The situation that led to the protests seems to have settled, but the Nigerian Army understands that the issue of food security will remain on the front burner of our national security policy and discussions for a while.
“As a way of strengthening its soft power approach to resolving Nigeria’s food security challenge, the Nigerian Army will, in the coming days, review its agricultural policy to better position the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches limited to significantly boost crop production so that the Army can release grains into the market at highly subsidized rate in support of government efforts.
“Furthermore, the Army Headquarters is reviewing some proposals for partnerships with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government and reputable private organizations on how best to collaborate to resolve the food crisis in the country.
”Relatedly, Nigerian Army troops currently provide security cover for farmers in critical farming communities in the North East, North West, and North Central zones. This is to prevent the devastating consequences of a pause or stop in food production in those regions on the entire country’s food supply chain.”
The COAS expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unflinching support and strategic guidance to the Nigerian Army.
