Food Security: Nigeria seeks Israel’s support to strengthen agriculture, education, others 

The Federal Government on Wednesday said it is working with Israel to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of agriculture, security, defence, entertainment, education and healthcare.

The move is also part of efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s socio-economic development, to achieve the $1 trillion economy by the year 2030

Chris Ugwuegbulam, Head, Information & Public Relations, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, in a statement, on Wednesday, stated that George Akume, the SGF, disclosed this when he hosted  Michael Freeman, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, in his office

Akume highlighted Nigeria’s enormous potential, especially the vast arable land, large and vibrant population, and abundant natural resources, including oil.

He noted that with the right partnerships and investments, Nigeria possesses the capacity to become a major global player in food production, technology, education and healthcare delivery.

Israel is known for its vibrant agricultural expertise, as well as  strong security capabilities, which Nigeria can leverage on to address the increasing cases of banditry, especially in the agriculturally rich regions, to boost food production

Akume, who recalled his two visits to Israel, expressed admiration for the country’s remarkable achievements despite its challenging environmental conditions.

He particularly commended Israel’s advancements in healthcare, education, agriculture and technological innovation, describing the country as a model of resilience and strategic development.

Freeman, while speaking earlier, described Nigeria as a blessed nation with immense opportunities and numerous similarities with Israel.

He recalled that Israel successfully transformed its vast desert areas into productive agricultural lands through advanced irrigation systems and innovative farming techniques.

The Ambassador expressed Israel’s readiness to partner with Nigeria in developing its agricultural sector to boost food production and position the country as a major exporter of agricultural products.

He emphasised that the key requirement for achieving such a transformation is strong political will and sustained commitment to implementation.

Freeman also observed that Nigeria and Israel face common security challenges, particularly the threat of terrorism, stressing that terrorism remains a global concern requiring coordinated international responses.

He further sought to understand Nigeria’s priorities in areas such as troop training, cybersecurity, tracking of illicit financial flows, border security and tactical operational requirements, with a view to identifying areas for strategic collaboration.

Also speaking, Adeyinka Famadewa, ( a retired Major General) and  Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security,  noted that Nigeria and Israel share similar security challenges.

He stressed that while both countries confront threats posed by terrorism and other forms of insecurity, Israel has developed advanced technological capabilities and security systems that could be beneficial to Nigeria.

Famadewa emphasised the need for enhanced intelligence sharing, capacity building and specialised training programmes between both countries to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve national resilience against emerging security threats.