By Aliyu Galadima
A group, the Nigeria Youth Forum ,NYF, has raised the alarm over worsening food insecurity in the country.
The group attributed the crisis to systemic corruption, diversion of agricultural machinery, weak budgetary commitment, and poor oversight of key interventions.
The National President of the group, Comrade Toriah Olajide Filani, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, expressed dismay that Nigeria, with over 84 million hectares of arable land, continues to depend heavily on food imports and international aid.
The group described the situation as “a national tragedy and policy failure”, noting that despite government announcements on the procurement and importation of agricultural equipment, many of the items are allegedly diverted for private gain.
It added that only 35% of Nigeria’s ariable land is currently in use, and largely by the smallholder farmers operating at the subsistence level without access to modern tools or support services.
“Government may be trying on paper, but the reality is different in the field. Agricultural machinery meant for community use is being diverted by individuals and sold off. These acts sabotage every effort aimed at achieving food sufficiency”, the group said.
The group also decried the persistent underfunding of the agricultural sector, revealing that Nigeria allocated just 1.32% of its 2024 national budget to agriculture.
It stated that this figure falls far below the 10% benchmark recommended by the African Union under the Maputo and Malabo Declarations.
“However, in what appears to be a shift in policy direction, the federal government increased its 2025 agriculture budget to ₦826bn, up from ₦362bn in 2024, a 128% increase within one year”, it added.
While acknowledging the significant rise, the group emphasised that mere allocation is not enough without effective implementation, transparency, and impact measurement.
“What we have is a pattern of underinvestment, where only 15 to 19% of what is budgeted ends up reaching the sector. The rest is either lost to bureaucratic bottlenecks or corruption.
“This is why, despite billions spent on programmes like the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme and the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy ,NATIP, the food situation is still dire”, it stated.
It added that the level of investment in agriculture is not commensurate with the sector’s strategic role in addressing youth unemployment, boosting GDP, and tackling rural insecurity.
The NYF observed that states with long-standing investments in agricultural infrastructure and mechanised farming, such as Kano, have reported fewer incidences of rural insecurity compared to other regions battling insurgency and banditry.
In Kano, the group said farming activities are consistent because of dam projects initiated by Audu Bako’s administration, as he explained that where young people are engaged in farming, they are less likely to become involved in criminal activity.
The group further lamented that the slow pace of agricultural reform is stalling broader economic progress.
“We cannot industrialise Nigeria until we develop the agricultural sector as well as our metal industries. The process of industrialisation is being delayed because we have failed to lay the right foundation through a solid and self-sufficient agro-economic base”, he stated.
The group called on governments at all levels to see agriculture not just as an economic priority but as a vital component of national security.
To reverse the trend, the group urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a national agricultural emergency, urging the president to unveil a comprehensive agricultural revival plan that is youth-focused, innovation-driven, and measurable
