The National Assembly has called for urgent measures to empower farmers with modern tools and financial support to combat the pressing challenge of hunger and food insecurity in Nigeria.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, emphasized the imperative for immediate action during a High-Level Strategic Engagement on Climate Change, Food Systems, and Resource Mobilization held in Abuja.
Organized by the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), the event served as a platform to address Nigeria’s food security challenges and leverage its agricultural potential.
Kalu stressed the necessity for collaborative efforts involving government, businesses, and communities to foster an enabling environment for private investment and sustainable practices, especially in the face of a burgeoning population and the impacts of climate change.
Highlighting the government’s ambitious goals, including a 25% increase in food production and the creation of 10 million new jobs in the agricultural sector by 2030, Kalu drew attention to President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency on food security.
Echoing Kalu’s sentiments, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa reaffirmed agriculture’s pivotal role amidst evolving food systems and climate change challenges.
He reiterated the state’s unwavering commitment to agricultural advancement, citing strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Olam and Dangote to bolster the agribusiness landscape.
Gloria Akobundu, the National Coordinator of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, underscored the critical role of smallholder farmers in building resilient food systems and emphasized the need for collaboration among development partners, private investors, and the diplomatic community to support agricultural sustainability.
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Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, the Africa Union (AU) Special Envoy on Food Systems, highlighted Africa’s rich agricultural heritage and identified key challenges such as limited access to modern inputs, inadequate infrastructure, and vulnerability to climate change.
Mayaki emphasized promising initiatives aimed at promoting agricultural development, including regional cooperation frameworks like the Economic Community of West African States and Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) designed to enhance food security and agricultural trade.
As hunger persists in Nigeria and across Africa, the call for farmer empowerment and strategic agricultural development initiatives reflects a concerted effort to address food insecurity and build sustainable food systems for future generations.
