In a significant move to address food insecurity and climate challenges, the Federal Government of Nigeria has partnered with a leading non-governmental organisation to launch a transformative agricultural blueprint.
A New Framework for Sustainable Agriculture
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, has officially unveiled a National Agroecology Strategy. This comprehensive plan is designed to overhaul Nigeria's agrifood systems and bolster the nation's resilience against the impacts of climate change. The strategy seeks to establish a more just, inclusive, and sustainable path for agricultural development across the country.
The strategy received formal endorsement during the 46th National Council on Agriculture and Food Security. It is now positioned as the government's primary framework to guide future agricultural planning, research initiatives, extension services, and budget allocations in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Multi-Stakeholder Efforts and Core Objectives
The initiative was spotlighted at a National Summit on Agroecology and Public-Private Partnership (PPP), held in Lagos on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. The summit served to validate the ongoing national efforts on this critical agenda.
Addressing attendees, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, stressed the urgent need to redesign the country's food system through agroecological principles. He explained that this approach offers multiple benefits, including building healthier soil, improving the stability of crop yields, strengthening community resilience, and reducing farmers' dependence on expensive and often harmful external inputs like chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Mamedu further detailed that the National Strategy on Agroecology was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder process, jointly led by ActionAid Nigeria and FMAFS. A central goal of the strategy is to empower smallholder women farmers, enabling them to produce food more sustainably, preserve indigenous seed varieties, and ultimately improve household nutrition levels.
Government Commitment to a Resilient Future
In his opening remarks at the Lagos summit, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, highlighted the significance of the strategy's endorsement. He stated that it clearly reflects the Federal Government's steadfast commitment to constructing a food system that can withstand climate shocks and operate sustainably for generations to come.
This landmark strategy marks a pivotal shift in Nigeria's agricultural policy, moving beyond traditional methods to embrace an integrated model that balances productivity with environmental health and social equity. Its successful implementation will be crucial for achieving long-term food security and economic stability in Africa's most populous nation.
