Nigeria’s growing food crisis has been linked to insecurity, weak policy execution, and poor infrastructure, as stakeholders raise concerns over declining agricultural productivity across the country.
Speaking at the 2026 Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce Agriculture and Agro-Allied Summit in Lagos, industry experts warned that persistent attacks on farmers and ineffective government interventions are severely affecting food supply.
Dr. Moji Davids, Group Managing Director of Xtralarge Farms & Resorts, said insecurity remains one of the biggest threats to farming activities. According to her, many farmers—especially in states like Benue—have abandoned their farms after facing kidnappings and heavy ransom demands.
She explained that beyond security, farmers also need access to finance, stable pricing systems, improved infrastructure, and efficient fertilizer distribution to boost production.
Also speaking, Prince Wale Oyekoya, an agriculture consultant and Managing Director of Bama Farms Limited, echoed similar concerns, noting that repeated attacks in farming communities have discouraged many from returning to the fields.
“When farmers cannot guarantee their safety, food production will naturally drop,” he said, highlighting the direct link between insecurity and food shortages.
On the financial side, Mr. Utomi Ezinwa of Union Bank of Nigeria pointed to political interference and weak accountability as major reasons why intervention programmes have failed to deliver results.
He stressed that while Nigeria has policies and systems in place, poor implementation continues to undermine their effectiveness, calling for a more transparent and coordinated approach among stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Victoria Uwadoka of Nestlé Nigeria urged farmers and policymakers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, warning against environmental damage caused by improper fertilizer use and other harmful methods.
Overall, stakeholders agreed that addressing Nigeria’s food crisis will require more than policies on paper. They called for urgent action to improve security, strengthen implementation, and invest in infrastructure to restore confidence in the agricultural sector and stabilise food production.