President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on food security in a bold move aimed at addressing the current food inflation and crisis in the country.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, the Presidential Advisory Council led by Mr. Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy disclosed that Mr President directed that all matters pertaining to food and water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.

He said Mr President also ordered the immediate release of fertilisers and grains to farmers and households for free to mitigate the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

Our Correspondent, Raliat Adenekan reports that the Presidential aide explained that the Federal Government will partner with states to create ranches in those that are willing to avail lands in order to curb open grazing, in addition to increasing security architecture to protect the farms and the farmers so that they can return to the farmlands without fear of attacks.

Alake also stated that President Tinubu’s mandate is to double the percentage of employment by Agriculture to about 70% in the long term by creating between 5 to 10 million more jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youth population.