As part of its ongoing efforts to promote food and nutritional security, the Federal Government of Nigeria is set to collaborate with the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).
This was disclosed by the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON, during a courtesy visit by a CILSS delegation led by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Abdoulaye Mahamadou, to his office in Abuja.
Dr. Abdullahi emphasized that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) is actively implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The focus, he said, includes modernizing farming practices, promoting food security, and enhancing nutrition across the country.
Key initiatives under this agenda include the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, the introduction of biofortified crops such as zinc-enriched rice, and the adoption of mechanized farming to increase productivity and address food insecurity.
“Our priority is to boost food production, ensure availability, affordability, and accessibility, while building resilient food systems to support livelihoods and household nutrition,” Dr. Abdullahi stated. He further highlighted the importance of strengthening technical capacity at federal, state, and local government levels, and developing sustainable investment frameworks to support long-term resilience.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening preparedness against food and nutrition crises, with a goal of achieving national food sovereignty.
Also speaking, CILSS Executive Secretary, Mr. Abdoulaye Mahamadou, affirmed the organization’s dedication to enhancing food and nutritional security across the Sahel and West Africa. He noted that CILSS works to improve the resilience of food systems, monitor nutrition trends, and promote sustainable, affordable diets across the region.
“CILSS remains a key partner in combating food and nutrition insecurity in the Sahel and West Africa. Our goal is to build stronger food systems and ensure that communities have reliable access to safe and nutritious food,” he said.
The meeting was attended by several Directors of the Ministry.
