OXFAM, others tasks FG, states, LGs on Food Acts implementation

The OXFAM in Nigerian, Voice for Food Security (VFS), Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF) have urged the Federal, state, and local governments to implement ‘The Right to Food and Food Security Acts’ in Nigeria for economic and citizens’ wellbeing.

The President, FIF, Prof Gbolagade Ayoola, who presented a joint statement during a media conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said the right to food is constitutional rights in Nigeria, and that subject to judicial determination, the right to food, taken together with other laws of the land is actionable.

He said that ‘The Right to Food and Food Security Acts’ as contained in the Fifth Alteration Act No. 34 2023, signed into law on 3rd March 2023 by the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari should not be taken with levity, due to the consequences it may have on the nation and citizens.

“This law said that production, conservation and distribution of food are upgraded and improved upon on a continuous basis. The state should direct its policy towards ensuring that strategies that guarantee good security of the nation regarding availability, accessibility and affordability of food to the citizens are initiated, undertaken and implemented.

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“Adequate measures should be provided to ensure that food security of the nation is not compromised by any individual, group or institution and the state shall promote and sustain activities that enhance food security,” Prof. Ayoola said.

He said the right to food in Nigeria will operate in tandem and in nexus with similar provisions in pre-existing international conventions, treaties and other legal instruments to which Nigeria is signatory to.

He said, “The government at the national, state and local level gave the act the teeth to bite, by implementing it faithfully and responsibly and also left for the people themselves to take full advantage of the act to participate more proactively in the food policy process affecting their lives.”