The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has called on the Federal Government to take decisive steps to address Nigeria’s worsening food security crisis, warning that the combination of insecurity, climate change, inflation, and poor implementation of agricultural policies could push millions more into hunger if urgent action is not taken.
In a statement delivered during a media interaction, AFAN’s National President, Kabir Kebram, raised concerns that Nigeria’s food system is on the brink of collapse unless comprehensive reforms and immediate interventions are put in place.
Kebram explained that the challenges facing Nigerian farmers are multi-dimensional, ranging from violent insecurity in food-producing regions, to skyrocketing inflation caused by fuel subsidy removal and naira depreciation.
According to him, these factors are already crippling agricultural productivity and eroding farmers’ profits.
“Our food system is impaired for so many reasons. Insecurity continues to bedevil farmers, especially in food basket areas like Benue, Plateau, and parts of Kaduna.
At the same time, inflation and subsidy removal have slashed the purchasing power of Nigerians, while climate change has made weather patterns unpredictable.
Collectively, these are serious threat factors to food sufficiency,” he stressed.
Recent data from the Cadre Harmonisé report shows that at least 31.8 million Nigerians are already suffering from acute food insecurity.
Experts warn that this number could rise further without targeted interventions.
AFAN’s president urged the Federal Government to move beyond policy announcements and focus on robust execution.
He noted that past agricultural programmes often failed because they lacked consistent follow-through and monitoring.
“The only way forward is to properly implement agricultural policies.
We must support smallholder farmers with credit, subsidies, and training in climate-smart agriculture.
If these farmers scale up, we can gradually move into large-scale mechanisation and ensure that no one is left behind,” Kebram said.
He emphasized that the government’s role should not be to directly run farms but to create an enabling environment for private farmers and investors.
Nigeria’s rapidly expanding population, currently estimated at over 230 million, poses an additional challenge to food sufficiency.
Kebram explained that food demand will continue to rise, and without innovative approaches, production will remain inadequate.
“There are many strategies to optimize production both for the immediate and in anticipation of population growth.
If we plan ahead, we can turn our population size into an advantage by creating markets, value chains, and agribusiness opportunities,” he said.
AFAN highlighted the need to view agriculture as a complete value chain rather than just primary production.
As smallholder farmers gradually give way to mechanised farming, Kebram argued, displaced farmers can find opportunities in food processing, logistics, packaging, and retail.
“The Federal Government has no farm of its own. What it should do is provide the enabling environment for smallholder farmers who form the backbone of our production.
Over time, mechanisation will take root, but those leaving farming can still thrive in agribusiness. That’s how agriculture becomes a wealth creator,” he explained.
Kebram also stressed the need to address climate change and insecurity, two major obstacles threatening Nigeria’s agricultural future.
Erratic rainfall patterns, flooding, and drought have disrupted farming cycles, while violent attacks and land conflicts have displaced thousands of farmers from fertile lands.
“The combination of insecurity and climate change has reduced the area of land under cultivation.
This is why we need both immediate interventions—such as securing farmlands—and long-term solutions like climate-smart agriculture and irrigation infrastructure,” he said.
Experts recommend a multi-pronged approach to addressing Nigeria’s food security crisis:
Strengthening rural security to protect farmers.
Expanding irrigation and mechanisation projects to reduce reliance on rain-fed farming.
Providing affordable credit facilities for smallholder farmers.
Investing in storage and processing infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses.
Encouraging private-sector partnerships to modernize the food value chain.
Nigeria is currently at a crossroads in its fight against hunger.
With millions already facing food insecurity, the AFAN president’s call for urgent action highlights the urgent need for coordinated policies, private-sector participation, and farmer-centered reforms.
If the government and stakeholders move swiftly, experts believe Nigeria not only has the capacity to feed itself but also to become a major agricultural exporter in Africa.
However, without immediate interventions, the food crisis may deepen, worsening poverty and social instability.