Hunger, poverty now security threats — NSA, CDS

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria's National Security Adviser

Hunger, Hope, and National Security: Nigeria’s Agricultural Revolution and the Global Fight Against Food Insecurity

In a bold and urgent shift, Nigeria is treating hunger and poverty not just as humanitarian concerns but as national security threats. At the 14th National Security Seminar in Abuja, top officials like National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa issued a stark warning: these twin crises are fueling insecurity, crime, and social disintegration across the country.

The seminar’s theme, “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria,” captured the essence of a growing movement—one that sees agriculture, economic empowerment, and social inclusion as weapons against instability.

A New Agricultural Dawn

President Bola Tinubu has launched the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, the largest mechanisation effort in Nigeria’s history. With 2,000 tractors, 9,000 implements, and support from international partners like Belarus, the programme aims to:

• Boost food production by mechanizing over 550,000 hectares of farmland
• Create over 16,000 jobs and benefit 550,000 farming households
• Reduce Nigeria’s dependence on food imports
• Modernize farming and make agriculture more appealing, especially to youth

As President Tinubu stated at the launch, “The ability to nourish our population forms the bedrock of a prosperous nation.”

Learning from the Past

While previous programmes, such as Operation Feed the Nation, Green Revolution, and Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, made strides in raising food production and empowering farmers, they often stumbled over issues like:

• Weak implementation and corruption
• Policy inconsistency
• Infrastructure and market gaps
• Limited credit access for smallholder farmers

The Renewed Hope initiative seeks to learn from these failures, using a service-provider model and international technology transfer to address longstanding inefficiencies.

Voices from the Fields

Reactions from farmers range from hopeful optimism to cautious skepticism. Many see the initiative as a turning point, especially the promise of accessible, modern equipment and training. However, concerns remain around transparency, equipment access, and affordability.

Youth engagement is another bright spot. Programmes like this, which blend technology and purpose, are starting to rebrand agriculture as a prestigious calling, not just a fallback option.

Nigeria’s Struggle in a Global Context

Nigeria’s approach isn’t happening in isolation. Around the world, nations are linking food insecurity with national and global security:

• Brazil’s Fome Zero cut poverty through cash transfers and food support.
• India uses its National Food Security Act and employment schemes to reduce unrest.
• Rwanda leveraged agriculture and development as tools for peace after genocide.
• The U.S. ties food security to stability in vulnerable countries through Feed the Future.
• Sahel nations combine food aid with peacebuilding strategies under the UN.

This global shift underscores a new paradigm: food security is national security. Hunger fuels conflict, and prosperity builds peace.

Charting the Path Ahead

What makes the Renewed Hope programme unique is not just its size—it’s the strategic clarity and political will behind it. It frames agriculture as the key to economic revival, social cohesion, and national security.

Yet success will depend on more than tractors. It demands inclusive governance, farmer-centered policies, robust monitoring, and true partnerships between communities, government, and international allies.

Nigeria now stands at a crossroads. If implemented faithfully, this agricultural revolution could become a model, not just for the region, but for the world. The seeds of hope have been planted. What grows next is a matter of vision, action, and trust.