The president’s declaration was delivered on Monday in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
..seeks Reform Unit for Policy Implementation
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Senator Ali Ndume has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a national emergency on food security, describing it as a necessary intervention to address hunger and rising food prices in the country.
Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, also proposed the establishment of a new Department of Government Efficiency to ensure that government policies are effectively implemented.
The president’s declaration was delivered on Monday in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, during the opening of the 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage.
Tinubu stressed the importance of improving irrigation and water resource management, noting that Nigeria has over 3.1 million hectares of irrigable land concentrated around the Niger and Benue river basins.
Ndume, in a statement issued on Tuesday, welcomed the president’s decision, saying it would help bring down the cost of food by boosting agricultural productivity.
“Giving the needed impetus to food production would go a long way in bringing down the prices of farm produce in the market,” he said.
The senator argued that beyond policy announcements, there was a pressing need for a structure to monitor execution, hence his call for a Department of Government Efficiency under the direct supervision of the SGF.
According to him, such a department would help track how Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) implement policies and utilize budgetary allocations.
“It is not enough to make policies; we must ensure MDAs comply with budget implementations and actively support government initiatives,” Ndume stated.
Drawing attention to local efforts, he commended Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, for already declaring a food security emergency in the state.
He highlighted Zulum’s provision of thousands of tractors, irrigation tools, and subsidised fertilizers to farmers as an example for other governors to follow.
Beyond food security, the lawmaker urged President Tinubu to take similar decisive action on the economy and national security. He warned that inflation and currency instability must be addressed urgently.
“The Federal Government must pay attention to the rate of inflation and bring it down. It must also ensure the stability of the Naira against the Dollar, especially since Nigeria remains an import-dependent economy,” he noted.
“Nigeria should begin to explore trade opportunities using the Chinese Yuan and other BRICS currencies, rather than placing undue emphasis on the Dollar,” he added.
His comments come at a time when food inflation and insecurity remain top concerns for millions of Nigerians, underscoring the need for urgent and coordinated action across all levels of government.