The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) have called for comprehensive policy reforms to tackle food security challenges in Nigeria.
In a high-level meeting held on Friday, led by FAO’s Nigeria Country Representative, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, both organisations discussed innovative approaches to ensure the accessibility, affordability, and availability of agricultural products across the country.
The discussions highlighted critical issues affecting Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including barriers to market access, inefficiencies in supply chains, and the growing impact of climate change on food production.
FAO and NESG emphasised the importance of strengthening public-private and international partnerships to drive necessary reforms and boost investments in modern agricultural practices.
The key areas identified for improvement include promoting climate-smart agriculture, enhancing agricultural infrastructure, and deploying advanced technologies to increase productivity.
Both organisations also stressed the need to provide farmers with the tools and knowledge to withstand climate-related disruptions.
In their joint efforts, NESG and FAO aim to deepen their collaboration through policy advocacy, private sector engagement, and capacity-building initiatives targeting farmers and agribusinesses. Their shared goal is to foster sustainable agricultural growth, economic transformation, and long-term food security for Nigeria.
This partnership marks a significant step toward addressing one of Nigeria’s most pressing issues. By leveraging their collective expertise, NESG and FAO are working to create a more resilient agricultural sector, driving both economic development and food security across the nation.
Nigeria is currently facing severe food insecurity and malnutrition, with an estimated 24.8 million people experiencing food insecurity as of November 2024. This number is expected to rise to 33 million by August 2025, exacerbated by factors such as conflict, climate change, and economic hardship.
In response, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and ECOWAS have recently signed a $12 million grant agreement to implement the Rice Resilient Value Chains Development Project (REWARD), aimed at improving food security in Nigeria and other West African countries.
