Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
A Two-day quarterly coordination meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the National Food Systems Transformation Pathways was held between 1st and 2nd June 2026 in Abuja. This was contained in a statement signed by Julie Osagie-Jacobs, Director, Information and Public Relations.
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP), Dr. Deborah Odoh while declaring the meeting open, noted that the objectives of the meeting were to; strengthen coordination coherence and accountability to resolve progress, re- innovate implementation momentum of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies and also discuss the preparation for the upcoming Food Systems National Convergence Initiative scheduled for the 10th and 11th June, 2026.
The Permanent Secretary was represented at the event by the Director, Social Development Mr. Joseph Ikpeamaeze.
The Director Food and Nutrition and Convenor of the Food Systems Transformation Pathways while welcoming Participants, underscored the urgent need to build food systems that are sustainable, resilient, inclusive and capable of delivering improved livelihoods and nutrition for all.
During the meeting, a number of issues were discussed, and participants resolved as follows in a Communique issued at the end of the meeting:
•That a stronger and more formalized Food Systems Transformation Pathways coordination mechanism be established, with clear mandates and accountability frameworks spanning federal state and local government levels.
•The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning FMBEP was urged to intensify advocacy for food systems transformation and improved nutrition outcomes.
•On financing and private sector engagement, the meeting called for the alignment of policy implementation with coordinated financing mechanisms to deliver actionable and bankable outcomes. In addition,statess and local governments were urged to demonstrate concrete financial commitments to the Food Systems Transformation Pathways beyond policy endorsement.
•The meeting stressed that nutrition financing remains inadequate and thus called for an improvement if states transformational goals are to be achieved.
•The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) was called upon to implement concrete measures to make agriculture economically viable at the grassroots through market and land access improvement, input cost reduction to attract women and youth in the agriculture sector.
•The meeting noticed the decline in the implementation of the national homegrown school feeding program and structured youth agricultural empowerment initiative and therefore called for a reversal.
•On nutrition, Food safety and consumer protection, the meeting advocated for consumer awareness campaigns on the identification of unsafe and substandard foods should be scaled up nationally led by National Food, Drug and Administration Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
•They also called for food safety standards and regulatory enforcement to be strengthened at all points of the food supply chain.
•The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to Nigeria’s FoodSystemss Transformation Agenda and the organization of the food systems National Convergence Initiative scheduled for 10-11th June 2026 as the next accountability milestone.
The Technical Working Group of the national food systems transformation pathways were drawn from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Research Institutes, the Academia, Development Partner, and the Private Sector.
The meeting was convened by the Food and Nutrition Department of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
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