An agricultural expert, Prof. Tunji Iyiola-Tunji, has called for the full implementation of government policies and programmes aimed at achieving food security across Nigeria.
Iyiola-Tunji, a professor of agriculture and development consultant at the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, made the call in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Lagos.
He spoke in commemoration of the 2025 World Food Day (WFD), marked annually on October 16, with the theme: “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”
The day serves as a global platform to highlight collective efforts and progress in building sustainable food systems.
Iyiola-Tunji expressed optimism that Nigeria could achieve food sufficiency by 2026 if the government’s agricultural policies were effectively implemented.
“The government is doing a lot to ensure food security, including declaring a state of emergency on food production, disbursing agricultural inputs to farmers, and lifting the forex ban on about 42 food commodities, among others,” he said.
He, however, stressed the need for full and transparent implementation of these programmes—especially input distribution—so that a greater number of genuine farmers could benefit.
Given the large number of farmers in the country, the professor suggested that the government should systematically profile real farmers to ensure equitable input distribution.
“The government is working in the right direction to achieve food security. With proper implementation of these initiatives, I believe that by 2026, Nigeria will have sufficient food,” he said.
Iyiola-Tunji also called for support to enable farmers to cultivate crops year-round, noting that farming should not be limited to the rainy season.
“We shouldn’t focus only on wet-season farming. Dry-season cultivation through irrigation and other supportive measures is crucial for sustainable food security,” he said.
The expert observed that despite government interventions, farmers still faced challenges in balancing production costs with market prices.
“There should be a balance between the cost of production and the price of farm produce, so that farmers are not shortchanged. This is why farmers need more support,” he added.
On insecurity, Iyiola-Tunji identified insurgency, terrorism, and banditry as major threats to farming activities across the country.
He said many farmers were willing to cultivate even in remote areas if peace prevailed, but insecurity had forced them to abandon their farmlands.
“All that farmers need is peace. When there is peace, they can go deep into their communities to cultivate as they used to,” he said.
Citing an example, Iyiola-Tunji mentioned a community in Plateau State that successfully resisted bandits and has since enjoyed relative peace.
He urged other communities to emulate such courage and complement government efforts in tackling insecurity.
“We cannot leave everything to the government. Communities should rise to protect their lands and livelihoods from insurgents and bandits,” he said.
