FG raises Alarm as Climate Change Threatens Nigeria’s Food Security
The federal government of Nigeria faces climate variations, such as drought and desertification, which pose significant threats to crops and livestock production, resulting in reduced yields and economic losses.
The government acknowledges that this could have a trickle-down effect on security, as food security is a crucial aspect of national security worldwide.
Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, highlighted these concerns during a Pre-Food Systems Stock-Taking Moment Media Engagement in Abuja on Wednesday.
The event was organized by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC).
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Umakhihe, represented by Mrs. Sugrat Mahmood, the Director of Nutrition and Food Security in the Ministry, stated, “Nigeria is susceptible to adverse effects of climate change such as erratic rainfall, drought, and flooding.”
He emphasized that climate change is a major challenge to food security in Nigeria, contributing to conflicts between farmers and herders due to resource struggles. Extreme weather events, particularly flooding, have also impacted smallholder farmers’ investments in recent years.
Mr. Nebeolisa Anako, the Permanent Secretary of Budget and National Planning, explained that the media engagement aimed to update and inform the general public and stakeholders about the upcoming United Nations Food System Summit and its Stock Taking Moment on the implementation of Food Systems Transformation Pathways in Nigeria.
Mr. Adebayo Ogunniyi, the Country Programme Analyst of the West and Central Africa Division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development, expressed that the challenges ahead for global food security are immense and complex.
Dr. Michael Ojo, the Country Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, praised Nigeria for taking concrete steps to transform the promises and intentions made in 2021 when the country shared its national food system transformation pathways with the rest of the world at the UN food system summit.
