By Abdullahi Lukman
Agricultural stakeholders have called for increased investment in local seed production, organic farming and household food cultivation, warning that Nigeria’s dependence on imported seeds could threaten its food sovereignty and long-term food security.
The stakeholders made the call during a media engagement to mark the 2026 World Food Day at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, where they urged Nigerians to embrace the “Let’s Go Planting” initiative and take a more active role in food production.
Segun Adebayo, Executive Director of CAfPRA and Deputy Director of the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), said a country could have sufficient food supplies but lack food sovereignty if it depended heavily on foreign suppliers for seeds.
He warned that reliance on imported seeds, particularly varieties that cannot be replanted after harvest, could expose Nigeria’s agricultural sector to disruptions in international supply chains.
Adebayo advocated investment in locally produced, regenerative seeds that farmers could preserve and replant, describing seed independence as essential to building a resilient and self-sustaining food system.
He also urged households, schools and communities to cultivate vegetables, fruits and other crops in available spaces, stressing that food production should not be left solely to commercial farmers.
“Let’s Go Planting is not just a slogan; it is a call to action,” he said, encouraging Nigerians to turn conversations about food security into practical efforts to grow their own food.
Similarly, Tom Obiazi, Director of Agriculture at the Loveworld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty, called for greater adoption of organic farming and safer alternatives to pesticides and other agricultural chemicals.
He said agricultural progress should be assessed not only by increased yields but also by its effects on soil health, environmental sustainability and human wellbeing.
The Chief Executive Officer of Women Food, Juliet Okumoku Eniakor, also emphasised the importance of access to quality organic seeds, noting that her company prioritised organic seeds for farmers supplying its food-processing operations.
She said the planting initiative could help raise public awareness of sustainable farming methods and healthier food choices.
Ifeanyi Nwaokolo, representing the Loveworld Ministry of Food Sovereignty, called for stronger collaboration among farmers, researchers, investors, processors and distributors to strengthen Nigeria’s food system.
He also urged stakeholders to ensure farmers had access to diverse seed varieties that could be replanted after harvest.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Chike Okafor, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to addressing malnutrition and strengthening the country’s food and nutrition security framework.
Represented by the committee’s clerk, Agenti Milicent, Okafor disclosed that nutrition and food security committees had been established in 32 states, leading to the formation of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.
He said the network was pursuing legislative measures to address nutrition challenges, including proposals to extend maternity leave to six months and regulate the sale of adulterated vegetable oils in open markets.
Okafor further disclosed that the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill (HB.2659) had passed its second reading in the House of Representatives, with a public hearing scheduled for October 20, 2026. He added that the National Nutrition Bill, an executive bill, was at an advanced stage ahead of its transmission to the National Assembly for consideration.
The lawmaker identified effective oversight of nutrition funding, protection of local food systems and safeguards against the aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods to children as key priorities.
He warned that malnutrition and food insecurity continued to threaten Nigeria’s socioeconomic development, with rising inflation placing additional pressure on households struggling to afford adequate and nutritious meals.
Okafor called for stronger partnerships among government agencies, development partners and private organisations to address the country’s food and nutrition challenges.
