Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF) and Voices for Food Security (VSF), in partnership with Oxfam in Nigeria is calling on government at all level to begin the implementation of the the Right to Food Act in the country.
The erstwhile bill (Right to Food and Food Security Act) was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2023. 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”.
Briefing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, President of the Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF) who is also the Chairman, Voices for Food Security (VFS), Prof. 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.
The Agriculture expert said, “the Act will NOT operate as an apology of State socialism in Nigeria, whereby the Government will be required to provide food for the people free of charge.
“The Act is a policy responsibility and policy accountability Act, whereby the people are empowered to take Government to account in the event of policy implementation failure to meet the food entitlements of the people.
“In practical terms, the Act implies that, the right to food is henceforth a constitutional right in Nigeria, and that, subject to judicial determination, the right to food, taken together with other laws of the land is actionable, justiciable and ultimately remediable in the country. Such other laws in consonance with the Act particularly include the right to life, as previously recognised and guaranteed by the constitution.
“It is now left for the Government at National, State and Local levels to give 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; while the Non-State Actors and development partners offer their usual assistance to Government and Civil Society, towards the successful implementation of the seminal Rights to Food Legislation in Nigeria”.
