Nigeria seeks stronger UN partnership to boost food security

Nigeria has called for a more robust partnership with the United Nations to achieve sustainable agricultural development and food security.

The appeal was made in Abuja on Tuesday during the visit of United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Dr Amina Mohammed to Nigeria, where she held discussions with key stakeholders in the agriculture and food security sectors.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, while welcoming Mohammed, highlighted the crucial role that the United Nations has played in Nigeria’s development.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome our sister, Dr Amina Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, to Nigeria to discuss the mutual partnership Nigeria has with the United Nations in the agriculture and food security sector and our efforts towards delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as well as our strategies for the next four years,” the minister stated.

He further emphasised the importance of this partnership, given Nigeria’s large population and the growing demand for food security.

“As you know, with our large population and growing demand for food security, Nigeria’s partnership with the United Nations is critical to meet the attendant huge consumption demand in both the immediate and long-term plans of action,” the minister noted.

He underscored the alignment of the ministry’s mandate with the key priorities of Tinubu’s 8-point agenda, which includes food security, economic growth, job creation, and poverty eradication.

The minister also acknowledged the longstanding cooperation between Nigeria and various UN organisations, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the United Nations Development Programme.

“It should be noted that Nigeria has a long-standing history of cooperation with some UN organisations across various sectors, including agriculture, such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and United Nations Development Programme, with notable success stories,” he said.

Nigeria’s commitment to this partnership is further demonstrated through its financial contributions to these organisations.

“Nigeria has been working with these international partners and paying statutory contributions and counterpart funds to FAO, IFAD, UNDP, UNIDO, ILO, WFP, and IOM, among others, to increase food production and encourage multilateral institutions to support Nigerian food system resilience with sustainable interventions in the agriculture sector,” the minister explained.

In particular, the ministry is seeking additional support for key programmes aimed at increasing food production and improving the livelihoods of rural populations.

“Currently, the ministry would appreciate further support for the Value Chain Development Programme, specifically targeting increased food production in the northern part of Nigeria,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of projects like the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project – Niger Delta, which focuses on enhancing income, food security, and job creation for rural youth and women through agribusiness development.

The Minister expressed optimism that the visit of the UN Deputy Secretary-General would mark the beginning of a new chapter in the Nigeria-UN partnership.

“Your visit to the FMAFS-Nigeria is apt and timely to create a new paradigm shift that will further improve the agriculture sector with food systems, the UN transformation pathway, and request to establish a stronger partnership to strengthen the existing cooperation and make projects for new ties for sustainable development,” he said.

The UN expressed its support for Nigeria’s strategy to manage the ongoing food security crisis, emphasising the importance of coordinated efforts across all levels of government.

Speaking at the event, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted the critical situation facing the country, noting that the crisis is exacerbated by multiple factors, including domestic challenges and global disruptions.

“We are looking at those most affected, and food security is a major issue, particularly for smallholder farmers who have been displaced,” Mohammed stated.

She pointed out that the UN is actively involved in planning efforts to address the needs of displaced populations while simultaneously tackling security issues in the country.

“What we are doing from the UN is to help with that planning so we can continue to support the displacement while also addressing the security issues in the country,” she added.

The food security crisis in Nigeria has been intensified by rising commodity prices, making it increasingly difficult for many Nigerians to afford necessities.

Mohammed acknowledged the complexity of the situation, noting that resolving it would require time and resources.

“It is not easy; it will not happen overnight. There are many interests that have to be resolved, as seen all over the continent,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Mohammed expressed optimism about Nigeria’s approach, indicating that the government’s strategy has the potential to manage the crisis effectively if supported adequately.

“But I think that the strategy the government has, if we can get behind it and support it with the necessary resources, should enable us to manage the food security issue in time,” she remarked.

Addressing the broader context of the crisis, Mohammed emphasised that Nigeria’s food security challenges are not solely domestic but are also influenced by external factors, such as the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

“This crisis is not just what happens domestically; it also involves external factors, such as the inability to recover in most African countries from the COVID crisis and the food security crisis caused by the war in Ukraine,” she explained.
Mohammed underscored the importance of collaboration between different levels of government and stakeholders to overcome the crisis.

Provided we are speaking together in a federal system, from local governments to states to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, I think we will overcome,” she stated.

When asked about the role of technology and biotechnology in driving food security in Nigeria, Mohammed acknowledged the controversy surrounding these approaches.

However, she stressed the importance of developing policies that balance innovation with the protection of the country’s agricultural systems.

“Let’s look at the pros and cons and ensure that what we are doing is protecting our systems. This is incredibly important; we have to do that first,” she added.



Punch