How Nigerian States Are Strengthening Food Security – NGF

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has detailed how various state governments are implementing targeted strategies to address food insecurity, leveraging their unique agricultural strengths and challenges.

In a document released on Tuesday by the NGF’s Head of Publications, Halimah Ahmed, the forum highlighted how governors are focusing on region-specific approaches, including tackling drought conditions in the North and managing floodplains in the South.

The NGF emphasized that these efforts are supported by partnerships between state governments, federal authorities, and international organizations to boost agricultural productivity and food security.

The document stated, “As Nigeria contends with the serious issue of food insecurity, governors from the 36 states have responded with strategic interventions designed around their specific agricultural strengths and vulnerabilities.”

Regional Strategies and Initiatives

In the North-West, states like Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, and Sokoto are capitalizing on their vast arable land to enhance the production of staple crops, including rice, millet, and sorghum. This is being achieved through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, which provides smallholder farmers with financial support and agricultural inputs.

Kano State, for example, has implemented several masterplans focused on irrigation, livestock, poultry, small ruminants, and fisheries. The state is also distributing improved seeds of rice, maize, and sorghum to subsistence farmers and has rehabilitated tertiary irrigation canals, benefiting over 3,000 farmers. Additionally, the African Development Bank’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone initiative is supporting the production of rice, tomatoes, groundnuts, and sesame seeds.

Similarly, Zamfara State is investing in mechanized farming and fertilizer distribution to increase crop yields, while also addressing post-harvest losses.

Challenges in the North-East

The North-East has faced significant setbacks due to a decade-long insurgency, with states like Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa struggling with food insecurity as a result of displaced farmers and destroyed farmlands. In response, the Borno State government, in collaboration with international organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), has launched several programs to restore farming in safer areas.

One such initiative, FAO’s “Green Shoots” project, supplies displaced farmers with seeds, tools, and training. Additionally, Yobe State has introduced climate-smart agriculture, promoting drought-resistant crops such as cowpeas and millet to adapt to changing weather conditions.

Despite these efforts, food insecurity in the North-East remains a pressing issue, with humanitarian organizations playing a crucial role in delivering emergency food aid.

Central and Southern Nigeria’s Approaches

In the North-Central region, states like Benue, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, and Nasarawa are prioritizing improvements in storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses. Benue, known as Nigeria’s “food basket,” has constructed modern silos and cold storage units through public-private partnerships, ensuring that farmers can store crops for longer periods.

In the South-West, states such as Oyo, Ogun, and Ekiti are incorporating technology to increase agricultural output. Oyo State, in collaboration with private tech firms, has introduced drone technology for precision farming, while Ogun State has made strides in agribusiness, launching the 200-hectare Magboro rice farm, which is expected to generate up to ₦25 billion annually. Ogun has also implemented initiatives to boost youth participation in agriculture, equipping young farmers with modern farming techniques, access to finance, and market links.

The South-South region, with its extensive river systems, is focusing on aquaculture to address food insecurity. States like Rivers, Bayelsa, and Cross River have invested in fish farming as a sustainable alternative to traditional fishing, in response to declining wild fish stocks.

In the South-East, states such as Anambra, Imo, and Abia are investing heavily in poultry and cassava farming. Imo State has launched a Cassava Revolution program aimed at providing farmers with improved cassava varieties and processing equipment to boost productivity. Efforts are also being made to improve road infrastructure in the region, ensuring better transportation of goods to markets and reducing spoilage.

In conclusion, the NGF document highlighted that while Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones face unique challenges, including conflict, climate change, and infrastructure deficits, the tailored approaches being implemented across the regions offer hope. As these initiatives continue to evolve, they aim to build a more resilient agricultural sector capable of feeding Nigeria’s growing population and reducing dependence on food imports.