The Federal Government has been urged to commence implementation of the Right to Food Act.
President,Farm and Infrastructure Foundation, FIF Prof. Gbolagade Ayoola, in partnership with Oxfam Nigeria made the call at a world news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, to promote policy and best practices in agriculture and rural development.
The erstwhile bill (Right to Food and Food Security Act) was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2023. (5th Alteration Act No 34, 2023) allows increased citizens’ access to affordable food.
FIF President told journalists that the conference was designed to advocate for the full implementation of the Act to protect citizens’ right to food.
He said, It now exist as an “Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to require the Government to direct its policy towards ensuring right to food and food security in Nigeria; and for related matters”.
In addition, he said, it became necessary in view of the current economic hardship affecting a larger percentage of the country’s population, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
Gbolagade Ayoola commended the Nigerian government for finding the bill worthy to be signed into law. He said the bill has given hope to millions of Nigerians living in protracted hunger and malnutrition.
Having consistently advocated for the birth of the Act, Prof. Ayoola urged governments at all level not to allow it lay low but implement relevant policies that will affect the lives of ordinary Nigerians positively.
He however urged Nigerians make good use of whatever policy the government will come up with, to ensure adequate availability of food in the country.
According to him, the government has the obligation, as provided by the Act, to respect and fulfill the right of citizens to food, adding that it entails regulation of activities of state and non-state actors and bodies inimical to people’s food entitlement.
“The obligation stipulates the limit of the state’s exercise of power, which includes refraining from destroying people’s access to food through unfavorable public policies.
“It also involves the provision of food assistance to poor and other vulnerable groups such as children at home or in school, nursing mothers, and internally displaced persons among others.
Also speaking, Dr William Mafwalal, acting Head of Programme, Oxfam in Nigeria, expressed readiness of the organisation towards supporting policies and programmes that ensure food security and gender mainstreaming.
Mafwalal said that Oxfam in Nigeria, FIF and other organisations have supported the realisation of the Act that took 13 years to come to fruition.
According to him, the full implementation of the Act will ensure that everyone has access to food irrespective of his or her financial status.
