MATAN initiative address Nigeria's food security

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has thrown its support behind the Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative (AMFSI), describing it as a transformative, technology-driven solution capable of addressing up to 90 per cent of the country’s food security challenges if implemented nationwide.

The endorsement was announced at the closing session of a three-day national forum organised by the MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria. The event brought together lawmakers, policy experts and industry stakeholders to discuss practical and innovative responses to Nigeria’s worsening hunger crisis, driven by rising food prices, insecurity and supply chain disruptions.

Speaking at the forum, Hon. Haruna Gowon, who represents the Bassa/Dekina Federal Constituency, stressed that food security must be treated as a national priority requiring deliberate legislative action. He noted that access to adequate food underpins public health, economic productivity, poverty reduction and social stability, while food scarcity fuels insecurity across the country.

“Food security is more vital than any other form of security. A hungry man is an angry man, and ensuring food availability will strengthen national security, stabilise the naira and reduce pressure on the foreign exchange market,” Gowon said.

He assured participants that the National Assembly would provide the necessary legislative backing and oversight to support the nationwide rollout of the AMFSI. According to him, ensuring food access is a shared national responsibility, with lawmakers committed to addressing the needs of their constituents at the grassroots.

Reinforcing this position, Mr. Chrisland Onyemechara, Senior Consultant to the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, said the AMFSI aligns with four key pillars of food security: environment, partnership, advocacy and innovation. He explained that well-coordinated, technology-based interventions supported by strong institutions could significantly improve food production and access.

“Strengthening systems from the grassroots, backed by good governance and proper coordination, will significantly improve productivity and access to food nationwide,” Onyemechara said.

Earlier, the National President of the MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria, Ambassador Olakunle Johnson, described the AMFSI as a privately driven, digitally powered initiative designed to provide food access to more than 40 million Nigerians. He said the programme is built around a Virtual Digital Identity (VDI) platform that registers individuals digitally and connects them to local food banks and community kitchens, ensuring transparency and equity.

“This is not another political promise. It is a fully operational system built on digitalisation, community participation and nationwide collaboration,” Johnson said.

With growing economic pressures and food insecurity, stakeholders expressed optimism that AMFSI’s digital framework could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s journey towards sustainable food access, economic stability and community resilience.