Nigeria’s Food Insecurity and Way Forward
By Usman Suleiman Sarki
Before the discovery of crude oil in 1956, Agricultural sector had been the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and contributed greatly to the country’s GDP.
The Nigerian agricultural sector currently employs about 70% of the country’s labour force making it the dominant sector in the economy.
While serving as sources of livelihoods to many citizens, agriculture also also helps in ensuring adequate food security to the nation.
However, looking at the current reality Nigeria is on a time bomb due to food insecurity that is currently reaching its peak on a daily basis. This has made the present administration declare a state of emergency on food insecurity in the country. This is indeed a great step in addressing the problem since the government has the political will and is committed towards making the problem a history.
It is imperative at this juncture to know that addressing this problem is not possible without examining its root cause(s) and identifying the appropriate actions to be taken to make it a history. In view of this, I am writing to give a highlights on the major factors associated with foods insecurity in Nigeria.
As it is today, the major factor responsible for food insecurity is the lingering security challenge facing the country which necessitated the suspension of farming activities in many states across the country.
It is apparently clear that the problem of Kidnapping and Armed Banditry in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States of the north western region have forced many farmers in the affected areas to abandoned their farms due the intensity of violent activities perpetrated by bandits in such areas.
The story is the same in the north east and north central as they are also rocked by Boko Haram insurgency and Farmers – Herders clashes which have been taking place for over a decade.
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The emergence and proliferation of these violent groups activities has drastically reduced the quantity of foods cultivated in the country which exposed many people to hunger, poverty, displacement and unemployment.
Looking at the scenario, it can be ascertained that foods insecurity and many other social problems can effectively be addressed only if the above mentioned security threats are adequately tackled thereby providing a conducive atmosphere for farmers to cultivate adequate food and cash crops.
In view of the foregoing, the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take all possible precautionary measures to combat insecurity in all its ramifications across the nooks and crannies of the country.
This can be achieved through social protection programmes such as poverty alleviation programs, subsidizing and reviving the education sector including the nomadic education system, encouraging collaboration between community based security initiatives and conventional security in identifying and apprehension of violent criminals as well as imposing appropriate sanctions on those apprehended for perpetrating such acts of violence.
As a complementary role, the academia and media can also help in identifying the causes of these menaces through empirical study from the affected communities as their findings and recommendations will give a head way in the formulation and implementation of policies that can address these problems squarely.
In the long run, the public should complement the efforts of security institutions by sharing credible information to the appropriate agencies which will lead to busting and arrest of terrorists’ syndicates in their communities.
No doubt, taking the above measures will greatly help in addressing the security challenges bedeviling the country including the growing food insecurity.
Remember that, ‘security is everybody’s business.’
Usman Suleiman Sarki, wrote from Federal University Dutse, Jigawa. He can be reached via
