By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has described Nigeria’s food independence and sovereignty as non-negotiable, saying the country is steadily moving towards self-sufficiency in the production of major staple foods.
Kyari stated this in his Independence Day message to Nigerians to mark the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1, 2026.
The Minister congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Nigerians on the anniversary, stressing that the true independence of any nation is closely tied to its ability to feed its population.
According to him, Nigeria is food secure and making steady progress towards achieving greater self-sufficiency in the production of key staple crops.
He attributed the progress to sustained support for farmers by the Tinubu administration through the provision of fertilisers, mechanisation and other essential agricultural inputs.
Kyari said the 2026 rainy season holds significant promise, expressing optimism that the downward trend in food inflation would be sustained.
He urged farmers and other stakeholders across the agricultural value chain to continue supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen food security in farming communities across the country.
The Minister wished Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Day celebration.