(Ecofin Agency) - Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo (photo), has inaugurated a Zero Hunger Strategic Initiative to put an end to hunger and poverty in Nigeria by 2030. The ex-president declared this during the launch of the Nigeria’s Zero Hunger Strategic Review 2030 in Abuja.

This review is the country’s promise to accomplishing the United Nations sustainable development goal, end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. The five-year pilot programme covers four states; Ebonyi, Benue, Ogun and Sokoto in the first batch and aims to exploit the agriculture potential of the country.

Obasanjo, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum, explained that the activities suggested in the report would be executed in all the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from this month, adding that the forum has set a timetable for the achievement of these goals. He said eight more states would be added to the principal states by January 2019 and by January 2021 all the 36 states including Abuja would have been covered, the Guardian reports.

In buttressing the ex-president’s point, the Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nteranya Sanginga, said the report is innovative and pledges to offer advance technologies to all the four pilot states.

Speaking on behalf of the sub committees, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, the United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu said the private sector has a vital role to play in achieving the Zero Hunger initiative. He added that the federal and state government should also be willing to provide the enabling environment.

Anita Fatunji