President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged state governors to prioritize agriculture by investing in food crops to reduce the high cost of food. He also encouraged Nigerians to engage in subsistence farming. This appeal was made during his speech at the Global Integrity International Award on Good Governance and Economy, where he was honored alongside Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, Pa Ayo Opadokun, and others. Tinubu received the “Distinguished Award for Courage and Resilience in Democratic Struggle,” Pa Opadokun was given the “Excellence in Courage for Democratic Struggle Award,” and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) received the “Best Security Company for Sustainable Oil Production” award. Hon. Wale Osun was also recognized with the “Award for Excellence in People’s Liberation.”
At the event, held at the Airport Hotel in Ikeja and organized by the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), Tinubu, represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Tunde Rahaman, expressed concern over the high cost of food and criticized the self-exploitative practices within communities. He emphasized the need for state governors to invest in agriculture to drive down food prices and called for national engagement in subsistence farming.
Tinubu assured that his administration would work to make a positive impact on the lives of average Nigerians, highlighting his achievements in office. He mentioned efforts to reset the economy, enhance power generation, increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), improve infrastructure, and boost security.
He noted the administration’s successes, such as achieving 5000MW of power in May and securing $30 billion in FDI. He also pointed out the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s initiatives, like the dry season farming program and support for wheat farmers, which created jobs and boosted agricultural productivity.
Tinubu reassured that the current challenges would soon be overcome, with gradual growth already evident, citing National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) figures showing a 2.98% growth in the first quarter of the year, up from 2.31% in the same period in 2023.
NHRC Secretary, Comrade Taiwo Adeleye, praised the awardees for their roles in Nigeria’s democratic progress and urged the president to address the current hardships faced by Nigerians.
