From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Two years into President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the dream of achieving food security remains under threat as rising insecurity across key agricultural regions continues to disrupt farming activities, drive up food prices and deepen hunger across the nation.
From late 2023 to mid-2025, at least 922 farmers and villagers have been reportedly murdered by insurgents as turf wars centered around food and water persists.
President Tinubu kicked-started the second phase of his administration by hiking the budgetary allocation from N362.94 billion in 2024 (1.32 per cent) and N826.5 billion in 2025 (1.7 per cent).
Before then, he declared a state of emergency on food security. Shortly after that, the government granted import waivers for key commodities to cushion the economic effect of food affordability. Despite the efforts, the prices of foodstuffs continued to soar, astronomically.
In July 2024, the government announced the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, as a subsequent appointment of Idi Mukhar Maiha.
The ministry’s primary functions include formulating, implementing, and monitoring livestock development and animal health policies and programs.
About nine months later, farmers and herders continued to clash, leading to the deaths of hundreds of people especially in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and Taraba States.
The ranching policy has not materialised. Cattle still roam across the country even in places without grasses.
Three months later, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abubakar kyari announced a partnership with John Deer, for the distribution of over 2,000 tractors. Not a single tractor has been released to farmers.
In May, Kyari announced key appointments of board chairmen into agencies under the ministry.
Those appointed were: the Cross River State APC Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba, as the chairman, Governing Council, the Benin City Board of Rubber Research Institute; Benue State APC Chairman, Austian Agada, is to head the Governing Board of Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council (NASC). Abdullahi Abbas (APC Chairman, Kano) – Board Chairman, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service.
Also, Macdonald Ebere (APC Chairman, Imo) – Board Chairman, Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos; Ubong Stephen Ntukekpo (APC Chairman, Akwa Ibom) – Board Chairman, National Institute for Freshwater Fish, New Bussa; Emperor Jarrett Tenebe (APC Chairman, Edo) – Board Chairman, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure.
Others are Aminu Sani Gumel (APC Chairman, Jigawa) – Board Chairman, Federal College of Produce Inspection and Stored Products Technology, Kano; Barr. Idris Shuaibu (APC Chairman, Adamawa) – Board Chairman, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan, among others.
The appointment threw up divergent views, as some experts questioned the expertise of the appointees.
The recent declaration of the recapitalisation fund of N1.5 trillion, raised suspicion on the intension of the government to match words with action. This is due to previous promises that saw the light of the day.
The clean up of farmers’ register has remained a pipe dream, as nothing has been done in that regard. Portfolio farmers still occupy the space, by snatching incentives meant for farmers.
In his reaction, ActionAid Nigeria, Food System Specialist, Azubike Nwokoye, painted a gloomy picture of the country’s food system in the nearest future.
Nwokoye identified delay in the release of budgetary allocation and lack of total capital increase. He stressed that the sector should be prioritised by the government, given the importance of food.
According to him, aside providing food, the government must ensure that the food consumed must address micronutrient deficiency especially in children.
He said: “We are dismayed and deeply unsettled about the future of our country’s food and nutrition security, given the shockingly insufficient budgetary allocations, delayed and minimal releases, and lack of total capital releases for the agriculture sector.
“This sector should be a top priority for the president, as adequate funding would go a long way in addressing the hunger and hardship currently faced by citizens.”
A farmer, Mariam Abubakar, charged the government in its fight against insecurity. According to Abubakar, farmers have deserted their farmlands because of the fear of herders.
“Honestly, I find it difficult discussing these issues because it is what has been discussed without result.
The government should start by addressing the long-standing problem between herders and farmers. If that can be achieved in one year, then the government can go bed happy. The problems are multifaceted.
But one issue should be addressed before another. We are not asking for too much. Let herders stop destroying our crops. Is that too much to ask? I do not think so.
But the National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim, claimed that what the country has achieved in two years has never been achieved in a long time.
Ibrahim implored Nigerians to be patient with current administration, as it addresses food sufficiency.
He said: “We are surely on the path to success. We are not yet where we want to be, but we are moving in that direction.
“What we have achieved in less than two years has never been achieved before, and I believe we are all aware—as people from communities across the federation—of the recent changes in food prices.
“Our goal is to stabilize prices and ensure the welfare of both consumers and farmers.”
Amid the escalating tensions and nationwide protests over farmer-herder violence, President Bola Tinubu has assured of protecting farmers and Nigerians generally to ensure food security and a progressive country.
As the rainy season peaks, the Nigerian Armed Forces have pledged to bolster security for farmers and safeguard agricultural lands.
This move, the military said, aligns with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, who has tasked security agencies with ensuring safe access to farmlands in support of national food production and food security.
In his recent weekly operational briefing, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said that troops launched renewed and strategic operations across various flashpoints during the review period of 8 to 15 May 2025.
“These operations are carefully designed and executed to ensure the safety of farmlands, farmers, and the general population, while restoring peace and stability in affected regions,” Kangye stated.
He reiterated the military’s strong commitment to national security, emphasising that the Armed Forces, under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, “is not negotiating issues of national security and the welfare of its personnel.”
“Our troops remain resolute and ever-determined to safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity, defend our national interests, and protect citizens from all forms of threats,” he said.
During the period under review, Kangye reported that troops destroyed several terrorist camps, rescued kidnapped victims and rehabilitated civilians impacted by ongoing conflicts.
Also seeking solutions to the perennial challenge, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, last month, met with leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to address the concerns of herder communities.
The United States Consulate said conversations centered on understanding the root causes of insecurity affecting pastoralist populations and seeking pathways to lasting peace.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of renewed unrest in states such as Benue, Plateau, Ondo, and Ogun, where attacks on farming communities by suspected herdsmen have triggered widespread outrage and deepened public anxiety over rural safety.
According to the Consulate, Ambassador Mills’ discussions with MACBAN leadership aimed to promote inclusive dialogue and identify peaceful, community-driven solutions to the conflicts disrupting agricultural productivity and social cohesion across Nigeria’s central and southern regions.
Available data shows that the ongoing farmer-herder violence is driven by a complex interplay of factors like; resource competition (battle over arable land and water) accentuated by climate change.
Climate change is leading to widening desertification and unpredictable weather patterns, which have forced herders southward into farming communities.
Another factor listed by social scientists is weak security infrastructure as understaffed and under-resourced security forces struggle to respond effectively to insurgents attacks.
More so, an influx of weapons has intensified the scale and lethality of attacks; just as ethno-religious tensions involving Muslim herders and Christian farmers have added a sectarian dimension to the conflict.
Security and finance experts have repeatedly said that the persistent attacks on farmers not only threaten food security but also exacerbate humanitarian crises in affected regions.
As a panacea, they suggested a multi-stakeholder approach, including security reforms, conflict resolution mechanisms and sustainable resource management.
Nonetheless, reports released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FOA), ActionAid Nigeria, and other local and international organisations suggested that the country is on a slow pace to achieve good security.