The Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture and Agribusiness to the late Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Mr Akin Olotu has expressed concern on the current food crisis in Nigeria.
Olotu an agriculture expert, who spoke in Akure said the food crisis may worsen if critical challenges affecting the sector were ignored.
“In the months ahead, there will be more food crisis.
“The present climatic condition is not favourable to farming activities. Something has to be done. The food crisis is still ahead. President Bola Tinubu has to set targets for the state and local councils. Presently, Nigeria’s poultry industry has collapsed” Olotu warned.
The erstwhile aide said the earlier prediction by the United Nations that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 per cent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030 was true.
According to him, the 2024 climatic condition was not favourable to farming, and the country’s agricultural research institutes have failed to meet the expectations in tackling the food crisis and bridging the gap between research and knowledge.
Olotu urged the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to harness the state’s agricultural sector and boost food production.
He added “We need a concerted effort to tackle food shortage. We need to plan; we need to know where we are and where we are going.”
Responding to the Olotu’s call the Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tayo Oluwatuyi, said there was need for more investments as the state is known for its predominant in agricultural activities.