THE NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL

President Muhammadu Buhari, on the 26th of March, 2018, inaugurated the National Food Security Council (NFSC) in Abuja. The Council, chaired by the President, has the Governor of Kebbi state as the Deputy Chair. Other members are the Governors of Taraba, Plateau, Lagos, Ebonyin and Delta states. The high profile Council has also named the following as members:

*Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
*Chief of Staff to the President
*National Security Adviser (NSA)
*Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development
*Minister of Finance
*Minister of Interior
*Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment
*Minister of Water Resources
*Minister of the Environment
*Minister of Budget & Planning
*Chief of Defense Staff
*Governor of Central Bank
*DG, Department of State Security Services (DSS)
*DG, National Intelligence Agency
*Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service

I am interested in the NFSC to the extent that the following are its objectives:

*Developing solutions to the farmer-herder clashes
*Study the impact of climate change and desertification on farmland, grazing areas, lakes, rivers and other water bodies
*Ascertain the impact of oil spillage on Niger Delta communities
*The effect of piracy and banditry on the populace
*Review of Agricultural Research institutions and extension services
*Inquiry into the challenge of smuggling

I am a member of the Forum on Farmer-Herder Relations in Nigeria (FFARN), and we have done a substantial amount of work. We meet monthly and so far, we have at least two policy briefs to show for it. It may be useful for the newly inaugurated NCFS to liaise with FFARN in order to avoid the former re-inventing the wheel. See for example dayokusa.blogspot.com/2017/11/forum-on-farmer-herder-relations-in.html; https://www.sfcg.org/.../responses-to-conflicts-between-farmers-and-herders-in-the...; https://www.sfcg.org/.../open-grazing-prohibition-law-in-benue-state-dec-2017...

Under the auspices of the Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD), there is a publication on Rural Banditry in Northern Nigeria, in which Dr. Amina Salihu and my I wrote the chapter on 'The effect of rural banditry on the livelihood of women'. I intend to keep a close watch on the progress of the NCFS with a view to sending memoranda if and when necessary... See for example   dayokusa.blogspot.com/2015/08/rural-banditry-in-northern-nigeria.html; cddwestafrica.org/cdd/rural-banditry-and-conflict-in-northern-nigeria/







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