The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has warned that Nigeria’s quest to reduce food import dependence and stabilise food prices will remain unattainable unless the government adopts a decisive and coordinated approach to tackling insecurity across the country.
The monarch stated this on Friday at the ancient Oyo Palace during an interfaith prayer service, where he identified insecurity as the greatest threat to agricultural production and food security in rural communities.
According to a statement issued by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin said farmers across the country continue to face daunting security challenges that hinder food production despite various government agricultural interventions.
“No matter the agricultural policies announced by the authorities, the reality in rural communities remains that insecurity has become the single greatest threat to food production,” the monarch said.
He noted that farmers should not be forced to negotiate access to their farmlands with armed criminals, stressing that such a situation undermines national food security efforts.
