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Farm to Feed: Soludo’s Solution to Hunger at a time of Anger
By Christian ABURIME
We do not live to eat, but we need to eat to live. Thus, food security is a fundamental aspect of societal well-being, encompassing the availability, access, and utilisation of nutritious food for everyone. Also, it is not just about preventing hunger; it is about fostering dignity, justice, and prosperity within communities that make up a state and a nation.
As the celebrity Spanish and American chef, restaurateur, and humanitarian José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, also aptly stated, “Food is national security. Food is the economy. It is employment, energy, and history. Food is everything”. This highlights the multifaceted role that food plays in shaping our societies and economies.
Naturally, therefore, addressing food insecurity is a moral imperative in any society. The need for immediate action to alleviate hunger and ensure that every individual has access to sufficient food is sacrosanct. Yet, it calls for the wisdom of collective action as echoed in the words of Irish singer-songwriter and activist Bono, who stated, “If you want to eliminate hunger, everybody has to be involved”.
The foregoing proposition, advocating that solutions to hunger and economic hardship require the collaboration of all sectors of society, from government and businesses to individuals and communities, is why the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has lately launched “Farm to Feed Campaign”. Coming at a time of nationwide hunger protests against economic hardship sweeping across Nigeria, Governor Soludo’s initiative offers a promising path forward, underscoring the power of agriculture as a sustainable solution to hunger, both in the short and long term.
While many regions in Nigeria have seen citizens take to the streets in protest against food inflation and economic challenges, Anambra State is taking a different approach. Governor Soludo’s campaign is a call to reasonable action, urging Ndi Anambra to be part of the solution rather than merely lamenting the problem. This proactive stance embodies the resilient spirit of the Igbo people at large and offers valuable lessons for the rest of the country.
The “Farm to Feed Campaign”, if faithfully embraced by Anambra people and others, promises several immediate benefits. By encouraging citizens to utilise every available piece of land for farming, the initiative aims to increase food supply within months, potentially easing the pressure on food prices. The campaign will also foster a sense of shared responsibility and community spirit, with local government chairmen, churches, and other stakeholders actively involved in promoting farming.
As more people engage in micro-farming, be it in their domestic backyards or other available spaces in rural and urban centres, it creates opportunities for additional income generation, helping to alleviate economic hardship at the individual level. This is not to talk of skill development through which the initiative provides an opportunity for citizens to acquire or enhance farming skills, which can be valuable long-term assets.
Beyond short-term gains, Governor Soludo’s “Farm to Feed Campaign” is also laying the groundwork for lasting change. By promoting widespread engagement in agriculture, Anambra State is working towards long-term food security, reducing dependence on imports and buffering against future food inflation crises.
Economic diversification is another long-term benefit. The focus on agriculture can contribute to diversifying the state’s economy, creating a more resilient economic structure less vulnerable to shocks in any single sector. Besides, Governor Soludo’s call to make farming and agriculture “the new national pride” could spark a cultural transformation, elevating the status of agriculture in society as a trendy occupation like ICT, acting and others.
There is also the advantage of environmental sustainability with the initiative, which includes the distribution of palm and coconut seedlings being done by the Soludo administration long before now. The “Farm to Feed Campaign” has a great potential for promoting sustainable agricultural practices that can have long-term positive environmental impacts. By encouraging youth participation in agriculture, the campaign goes further to address unemployment issues while ensuring the continuity of farming knowledge and practices.
So, as Nigeria contends with severe economic challenges and food inflation, Governor Soludo has swung into action with a practical solution. The “Farm to Feed Campaign” offers a bright ray of hope and pragmatism. If embraced by all, it can transform the current crisis into an opportunity for growth, self-reliance, and nation building, turning Nigeria’s vast arable lands into a source of abundance rather than scarcity. Governor Soludo’s words ring true: “Let us get to work, every citizen, one at a time…be the change you desire.” This way, Nigeria may well find its path to food security and economic stability, one farm at a time.
Aburime is the Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN has disclosed that over 30,000 of its members are set to buy Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in bulk.
IPMAN also revealed that the price of petrol from the refinery was N940/litre and N990/litre when purchased using ships and trucks, respectively.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, IPMAN President, Abubakar Garima, said the pump prices of petrol at its retail outlets will drop following the agreement with the Dangote refinery to lift products directly from the plant.
On Monday, IPMAN agreed with the Dangote refinery to directly lift petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products.
This agreement follows months after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation suspended its plan to serve as the sole off-taker of petroleum products from the 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
The IPMAN president explained that the Dangote refinery had been obliged to allow marketers to lift PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for onward supply to their depots and retail outlets but didn’t reveal the price.
Giving an update on pricing during the interview, the IPMAN national officer said the Refinery has provided two different rates for marketers based on their preferences.
He said marketers can load at the gantry at a price of N990 per litre or N940 through vessel transportation.
Garima said, “Presently, we have been given two different arrangments on how to buy fuel from the refinery. There is the one that we can load the vessels and carry to our various depots at the rate of N940 per litre. Then for the depots, it is at the rate of N990 per litre.
“The difference is because we have to load it and carry it to another part of the state. We use vessels to carry these products and there is another one to load from the gantry.
“For Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar, we have to use vessels because there is no Dangote loading gantry there, we have to carry it to our private depot and discharge and distribute it to our members.”
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the reinstatement of 23 health workers previously suspended for absence from their duty posts at Gwoza General Hospital.
This decision was announced during the Governor’s inspection of the hospital’s newly renovated maternity and child center, as well as other ongoing projects.
Dauda Iliya, Spokesperson and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, in a statement Tuesday, said the health workers had initially been suspended after Zulum’s earlier visit, where he found them absent from their duties.
Addressing the staff, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of dedication to work and assured them of improved working conditions and other incentives.
“Complaints were made about the 23 medical workers who were absent during my last visit,” he noted. “No one is perfect, so the government has pardoned them, although no arrears will be paid.”
In response to a staff shortage raised by the Principal Medical Officer of Gwoza General Hospital, Dr Nuhu Nasiru Wakawa, Governor Zulum directed the immediate deployment of four additional doctors and ten nurses to the facility.
He further announced that Gwoza General Hospital will be upgraded to support training for nursing students from the new school of nursing under construction.
“The Commissioner of Health, together with the Chief Medical Director of the Hospitals Management Board, will work on this deployment,” Zulum added. “We will also recruit community health workers from Gwoza to strengthen local healthcare services.”
In addition to his healthcare initiatives, Governor Zulum inspected the crusher plant base under construction in Pulka, which will produce up to 300 tonnes of stones per hour.
He said the completion of the crushing and asphalt plants is expected to facilitate new road networks across Borno State.
The Governor also visited other development sites, including the 500-unit mass housing project in Wala B, Gwoza Local Government Area, and a proposed site for a high Islamic school in Bama, underscoring his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and educational advancement.
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has secured an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly.
IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this at an ongoing press briefing on Monday in Abuja, following a meeting of the National Working Committee of the Association.
He said the partnership would ensure a steady, affordable supply of PMS products nationwide.
“After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.”
Garima urged IPMAN members to support Dangote Refinery, citing the benefits of backward integration and its positive impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.
“IPMAN members should rely on Dangote Refinery and Nigerian refineries for white products, creating more job opportunities and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.”
The latest development concludes several months of negotiations between both parties and is expected to increase efficiency, affordability, and economic growth.
The Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe, has already commenced the production of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, with plans to supply products to over 30,000 IPMAN members and 150,000 retail outlets nationwide.
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