Food security is national security: Nigeria cannot afford to get this wrong

There are moments in the life of every nation when it must confront a difficult truth. For Nigeria, that truth is this: food security is national security.

A nation that cannot feed its people cannot guarantee peace, economic stability, or sustainable development. Hunger does not simply empty stomachs, it fuels insecurity, weakens institutions, deepens poverty, and robs an entire generation of its future.

Despite possessing over 84 million hectares of arable land, a youthful population, and one of Africa’s largest agricultural markets, Nigeria continues to struggle with food inflation, declining productivity, widespread malnutrition, and increasing dependence on food imports. This paradox should concern every policymaker, investor, and citizen.

Food is no longer merely an agricultural issue. It has become a national security issue.

Hunger and insecurity feed each other

Across many parts of Nigeria, farmers are abandoning their fields because of insecurity. In return, reduced food production drives prices higher, creating greater hardship for millions of households.

When food becomes unaffordable, social tensions rise.

When unemployment increases, crime becomes more attractive.

When young people lose hope, they become vulnerable to criminal networks, violent extremism, political manipulation, and social unrest.

History has repeatedly shown that societies experiencing widespread food shortages become increasingly unstable. Hunger creates desperation, and desperation weakens national resilience.

No country can successfully fight insecurity while ignoring food security.

Politics Has Too Often Replaced Long-Term Planning

Successive administrations have announced agricultural programmes, intervention funds, and policy initiatives. While some have achieved measurable progress, many have failed to survive political transitions.

Agriculture in Nigeria has too often become a political slogan rather than a national development strategy.

Each new administration introduces new programmes instead of strengthening existing institutions. Projects are abandoned before delivering impact. Budget allocations fluctuate with political priorities rather than national necessity.

Food security cannot depend on election cycles.

It requires continuity.

It requires bipartisan commitment.

It requires policies that survive governments.

Countries that transformed their agricultural sectors from Brazil to Vietnam did not succeed because of politics. They succeeded because agriculture became a national priority supported consistently over decades.

Nigeria must do the same.

Nigeria’s Greatest Untapped Resource Is Its Youth

Nearly 70 percent of Nigeria’s population is under the age of 35.

This should be our greatest competitive advantage.

Instead, millions of young Nigerians remain unemployed, underemployed, or excluded from meaningful economic participation.

This is both an economic tragedy and a national security risk.

Agriculture offers one of the largest opportunities for mass employment, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation.

Yet many young people still perceive agriculture as outdated, labour-intensive, and unprofitable.

The problem is not agriculture.

The problem is how agriculture has been presented.

Modern agriculture is technology.

Modern agriculture is logistics.

Modern agriculture is artificial intelligence, drones, precision farming, satellite monitoring, climate-smart solutions, biotechnology, digital finance, food processing, export markets, and innovation.

Young Nigerians are not afraid of hard work.

They are looking for opportunity.

Our responsibility is to make agriculture an industry they aspire to join not one they feel forced into.

Skills Development Must Become a National Priority

Unemployment is not solely caused by a lack of jobs.

In many cases, it reflects a mismatch between available opportunities and available skills.

Thousands of graduates leave universities each year without practical agricultural, technical, entrepreneurial, or digital competencies.

This must change.

Nigeria needs a nationwide movement that equips young people with practical, market-driven skills in agribusiness, mechanization, food processing, supply chain management, agritech, renewable energy, irrigation systems, and agricultural finance.

Training should not end in classrooms.

It should lead directly to employment, entrepreneurship, and investment.

An unemployed but skilled youth can create opportunities.

An unemployed and untrained youth becomes vulnerable to exploitation.

Malnutrition Is Quietly Destroying Our Future

One of the least discussed national security threats is malnutrition.

Millions of Nigerian children suffer from stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies.

Poor nutrition affects brain development, school performance, productivity, and lifetime earning potential.

A child who begins life malnourished is less likely to reach his or her full intellectual and economic potential.

This is not merely a health issue.

It is an economic issue.

It is an education issue.

It is a workforce issue.

Ultimately, it is a national security issue.

No nation can build a globally competitive economy while millions of its future workers are denied proper nutrition.

Agriculture Must Become an Economic Ecosystem

Food security extends beyond farming.

It includes storage, transportation, processing, financing, technology, energy, research, market access, insurance, exports, and value addition.

Nigeria loses billions of naira annually through post-harvest losses because of inadequate storage facilities, weak cold-chain infrastructure, poor rural roads, and unreliable electricity.

Every ton of food lost after harvest represents lost income for farmers, higher prices for consumers, and reduced national food availability.

Investment must therefore extend beyond production.

We need integrated agricultural ecosystems that connect farms to factories, markets, ports, financial institutions, and global value chains.

A National Call to Action

Food security should no longer be viewed as the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture alone.

It must become a coordinated national mission involving government, the private sector, financial institutions, development partners, universities, research institutes, technology companies, and civil society.

This requires investments in irrigation infrastructure, mechanization, rural roads, storage facilities, agricultural education, digital innovation, youth entrepreneurship, and accessible financing for farmers and agribusinesses.

It also requires stronger governance, greater transparency, and policies that encourage long-term private investment.

Above all, it requires political courage to think beyond electoral cycles.

The Choice Before Nigeria

Nigeria stands at a defining moment.

We can continue treating agriculture as another government programme, or we can recognize it for what it truly is the foundation of national stability, economic prosperity, and social peace.

The countries that will dominate the future are not simply those with oil, minerals, or technology.

They will be the countries that can consistently feed their populations, create productive jobs, and build resilient food systems.

Nigeria has the land.

Nigeria has the people.

Nigeria has the entrepreneurial spirit.

What remains is the collective will to transform these advantages into lasting prosperity.

Because when a nation secures its food, it secures its economy.

When it secures its economy, it secures its people.

And when it secures its people, it secures its future.

The message is simple and urgent:

Food security is national security. Nigeria cannot afford to delay any longer.

Bob-Egbe, director, Lorien works/co-founder AgriconnectX summit.