The Federal Government has officially declared a state of emergency on food security, signaling a renewed and urgent commitment to addressing the country’s deepening hunger crisis and infrastructural shortfalls in agriculture. The announcement came on Monday during the opening of the 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage, held in Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, made the declaration while emphasizing the strategic importance of irrigation development, water resource management, and private sector engagement to enhance food production across the country.

Urgent Call for Regional Cooperation and Technological Innovation

During his address, President Tinubu urged African nations to collectively adopt innovative, sustainable, and inclusive practices to overcome the continent’s long-standing challenges in irrigation, drainage, and agricultural productivity. According to him, Nigeria’s food security cannot be achieved in isolation and must be backed by regional cooperation and integrated water infrastructure.

He pointed out that Nigeria currently possesses over 3.1 million hectares of irrigable land, primarily concentrated in fertile zones surrounding the Niger and Benue River basins. Unlocking the agricultural potential of these areas, Tinubu explained, remains a vital step toward reducing Nigeria’s dependency on food imports and achieving nationwide self-sufficiency in food production.

TRIMING Project Driving Tangible Progress in Irrigation Development

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, highlighted significant strides made under the ongoing Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project—a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at reforming irrigation systems, water governance, and farming practices.

Utsev noted that the project has led to the creation of Water Users Associations (WUAs) and farmer-managed service centers across major agricultural zones. These groups are tasked with maintaining irrigation systems, promoting efficient water use, and strengthening market linkages for priority crops such as rice and tomatoes.

As part of the wider national strategy, over 153,000 hectares of irrigable farmland have already been developed under the River Basin Development Authorities. To enhance their operational efficiency, the federal government plans to introduce partial commercialization of these authorities. This approach aims to attract private sector capital, improve service delivery, and accelerate the modernization of Nigeria’s irrigation infrastructure.

Stakeholders Rally Behind National Food Security Strategy

The emergency declaration on food security aligns with recent recommendations made by stakeholders during the BusinessDay Agriculture Conference on Food Security, held on March 27, 2025. Participants at the event called for immediate and systemic reforms in agricultural infrastructure, policy implementation, and security management to reverse the country’s worsening food situation.

Kabir Ibrahim, National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), warned that food security cannot be realized without addressing the interconnected challenges of energy supply, transportation logistics, and insecurity. “Agricultural systems do not operate in isolation,” he stressed. “Power, transport networks, and security are the critical enablers of productivity and food distribution.”

Frank Aigbogun, Publisher of BusinessDay, echoed these concerns, pointing to the paradox of widespread hunger in a country rich in natural resources. “With the vast arable land available across Nigeria, we have all it takes to feed our population and export to other African countries,” he stated. “What we need now is coordinated action.”

Food Insecurity Reaches Alarming Levels

The urgency behind the government’s declaration is backed by troubling data. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) projects that approximately 33.1 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity in 2025—a dramatic increase from the estimated 25 million in 2023. These figures underline the need for swift and sustained interventions to prevent a full-blown food crisis.

Rising inflation, foreign exchange volatility, insecurity in key farming areas, and climate-related disruptions have all contributed to reduced food availability and affordability. Additionally, post-harvest losses and weak value chains have continued to hamper the effectiveness of food systems in both rural and urban regions.

Nigeria’s Comprehensive Plan to Tackle Food Insecurity

To combat these challenges, the Tinubu administration is rolling out a multi-pronged food security action plan anchored on irrigation development, improved access to finance, market infrastructure upgrades, and mechanization of smallholder farms.

Key components of this plan include:

• Expansion of large-scale irrigation projects under the TRIMING initiative.

• Establishment of farmer clusters and cooperatives to facilitate economies of scale.

• Development of agro-processing hubs and storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.

• Provision of subsidized inputs and access to affordable credit for smallholder farmers.

• Improved coordination between federal, state, and local governments for effective implementation.

The government also plans to promote climate-smart agriculture practices, encourage youth and women’s participation in agribusiness, and ensure that food policies align with broader national development goals.

Regional Partnerships and Global Support Vital to Progress

President Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria remains open to partnerships with international organizations, donor agencies, and private investors to boost the effectiveness of its food security initiatives. He urged regional bodies like the African Union and NEPAD, as well as global agencies such as the FAO and IFAD, to deepen their collaboration with Nigeria as the country works toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2 on Zero Hunger.

He further reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging regional frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to enhance intra-African agricultural trade and improve the flow of food across borders.

Looking Ahead: A Roadmap to Resilience

As the food security emergency declaration takes effect, expectations are high that this move will usher in a new era of accountability, investment, and reform in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. With more than half of Nigeria’s labor force engaged in agriculture, transforming the sector into a resilient and productive engine of growth could yield far-reaching benefits for employment, income generation, and national stability.

Experts argue that the success of this initiative will ultimately depend on the ability of federal and state actors to collaborate effectively, enforce regulations, and ensure that smallholder farmers—the backbone of Nigeria’s food system—are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to thrive.

With political will now aligned with national urgency, Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment to reshape its agricultural future and secure nourishment for its growing population. The road ahead demands action, innovation, and a shared commitment to feeding the nation.