Nearly two years after President Bola Tinubu’s administration declared a “state of emergency” on food insecurity through his spokesman, Dele Alake, the policy has largely failed to deliver results. Despite the lofty goals, the announcement lacked the weight and authority that typically accompanies such declarations when made directly by the president.
With food inflation soaring to 34% shortly after the declaration—partly due to economic policies like fuel subsidy removal and currency floatation—the impact on Nigerians was severe, and even the current reduced rate of 23% remains burdensome.
The effectiveness of national emergencies depends greatly on the level of presidential involvement and executive action. Historical examples, such as Buhari’s COVID-19 emergency response and Tinubu’s emergency in Rivers State, demonstrate that direct presidential leadership can rally the entire government machinery toward success. In contrast, the food security emergency, announced by a spokesperson without strong follow-through, lacked both urgency and coordination, highlighting a systemic issue in policy implementation.
At the heart of the crisis lies insecurity, which continues to prevent farmers from safely accessing their lands. Armed groups and terrorists, including Boko Haram and Fulani militias, dominate rural areas, making any agricultural revival impossible without first restoring security. For a meaningful turnaround, President Tinubu must personally relaunch and lead the food security initiative, mobilizing all levels of government, the private sector, and citizens to confront both insecurity and food scarcity head-on. Governance must now match rhetoric with concrete action.
