Vice-President Kashim Shettima has established a technical committee to accelerate wheat and other staple crop production, alongside livestock development, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The committee was constituted on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, during a high-level meeting on agricultural sector performance and strategic interventions at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Shettima tasked the committee members with developing a clear implementation blueprint for the government’s agricultural programmes, stressing the need for coordinated action and practical solutions to address challenges across the sector.
He urged members to combine their professional expertise, align ongoing interventions and identify priority areas where faster implementation could improve agricultural output and support national food security.
The move comes as Nigeria continues to face pressure to increase domestic food production, reduce dependence on imports and improve the availability and affordability of essential food items.
Wheat is among the crops receiving attention as Nigeria seeks to expand local production and reduce its reliance on imported supplies. Increasing domestic wheat output could help strengthen the supply chain for flour and other wheat-based products, although results depend on factors including suitable varieties, irrigation, access to inputs and reliable markets.
The committee is also expected to focus on other staple crops that form a significant part of Nigerian diets. Improving their production could help increase food availability and strengthen the livelihoods of farmers across the country.
A clear implementation plan would be important for translating the government’s agricultural priorities into measurable outcomes. Such a plan would typically require defined responsibilities, implementation timelines, funding arrangements and a system for monitoring progress.
Livestock development forms another major component of the committee’s assignment. The sector supports food production, employment and income for farmers, herders, processors and other participants in the agricultural value chain.
Improving livestock productivity requires attention to animal health, breeding, feed supply, veterinary services, processing facilities and access to markets. Coordination among relevant ministries, agencies, state governments and private-sector operators will be important for delivering results.
The committee’s work is expected to help the government coordinate interventions across these connected areas rather than treating crop production and livestock development as isolated priorities.
Shettima’s directive places emphasis on moving from policy announcements to coordinated implementation. However, the government has not provided further details in the information available for this report about the committee’s full membership, its submission deadline or specific production targets.
Those details will help clarify how the committee’s recommendations will be translated into action and how progress will be assessed.
For farmers and consumers, the wider objective is to strengthen domestic food production, improve agricultural value chains and support a more reliable supply of food across Nigeria. The impact will ultimately depend on the measures adopted, resources committed and consistency of implementation.