The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening agricultural resilience and improving food security across the country.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, who spoke in Abuja during the signing ceremony at the NADF said that the two Federal government agencies saddled with the responsibilities of implementing technology-driven agricultural reforms were collaborating to promote President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda towards achieving food security.
He noted that the agreement would provide “a framework for the development of a multi-hazard Agricultural Early Warning and Response System designed to support timely intervention in addressing threats to agricultural productivity and food systems”.
Ibrahim also stated that NADF has been working with allied institutions to build stronger support systems for farmers and agribusinesses operating within increasingly difficult conditions.
He explained that, “ under the arrangement, both institutions will work towards deploying an Agricultural Early Warning System that integrates geospatial intelligence, data aggregation and predictive analysis across Nigeria’s agroecological zones. The initiative is expected to support farmers, policymakers, financial institutions and other stakeholders with timely information for planning and response.
According to him, “ climate variability, environmental degradation, pest outbreaks and market disruptions continue to pose serious risks to agricultural production and investment in the sector.
“One of the core pillars of NADF’s strategy is emergency response and resilience support for farmers and agricultural communities. This collaboration will help us move from reactive interventions to a more proactive approach in responding to threats affecting food production nationwide,” he said.
Also speaking, Director-General of OSPRE, Chris Ngwodo, said the agreement was an important step towards improving coordination on food security and climate resilience.
According to him, “human security is not limited to physical security alone; it also includes food systems, climate shocks, livelihoods, and community resilience.”
He further disclosed that “ OSPRE, established in line with ECOWAS protocols on early warning and response mechanisms, is mandated to monitor and address threats related to food security, environmental risks and community stability.”
