The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday to strengthen agricultural resilience and improve food security across Nigeria.
Partnership Objectives
The agreement with OSPRE, Nigeria's National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanisms, aims to develop a framework for a multi-hazard Agricultural Early Warning and Response System. This system is designed to support timely interventions in addressing threats to agricultural productivity and food systems.
NADF's Commitment
Mohammed Ibrahim, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, speaking at the MoU signing in Abuja, stated that the partnership reflects the Fund's commitment to building stronger support systems for farmers and agribusinesses operating under increasingly difficult conditions. He noted that climate variability, environmental degradation, pest outbreaks, and market disruptions continue to pose serious risks to agricultural production and investment.
Ibrahim highlighted that emergency response and resilience support for farmers and agricultural communities is one of NADF's core strategic pillars. He emphasized that the collaboration would help transition from reactive interventions to a more proactive approach in responding to threats affecting food production nationwide.
Under the arrangement, both institutions will work towards deploying an Agricultural Early Warning System that integrates geospatial intelligence, data aggregation, and predictive analysis across Nigeria's agroecological zones. The initiative is expected to provide farmers, policymakers, financial institutions, and other stakeholders with timely information for planning and response.
OSPRE's Perspective
Chris Ngwodo, Director-General of OSPRE, described the agreement as a crucial step towards improving coordination on food security and climate resilience. He stated that human security encompasses not only physical security but also food systems, climate shocks, livelihoods, and community resilience. Ngwodo explained that OSPRE, established in line with ECOWAS protocols on early warning and response mechanisms, is mandated to monitor and address threats related to food security, environmental risks, and community stability.
Expected Outcomes
The partnership is also expected to enhance data-driven decision-making, strengthen early response mechanisms, and support national efforts aimed at protecting food-producing communities and boosting investor confidence in the agricultural sector.
