Nigeria’s quest for food security continues to face major challenges, including insecurity in farming communities, corruption in agricultural financing, poor infrastructure and inadequate government support, according to a new analysis by economist Dele Sobowale.
In an article published by Vanguard on Monday, November 2, Sobowale argued that the country’s dependence on food imports reflects longstanding weaknesses in domestic agricultural production and policy implementation.
He identified insecurity as one of the biggest threats to food production, explaining that attacks on rural communities force farmers to abandon their farms, disrupt harvesting activities and increase pressure on food supplies.
Citing the reported attack on Binnari community in Taraba State, where more than 50 people were reportedly killed, Sobowale warned that violence in farming areas could have consequences beyond the immediate loss of lives, including displacement, reduced agricultural labour and food wastage.
The economist also criticised the underutilisation of government-procured tractors, arguing that insecurity in rural areas discourages operators and investors from participating in large-scale farming.
Another concern raised was the diversion of agricultural loans and subsidies to individuals who allegedly collect government support without operating genuine farms. He cited historical agricultural financing schemes and reports of unrecovered loans under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme as examples of weaknesses in the system.
Sobowale further blamed poor government revenue performance and inadequate funding of agricultural programmes for limiting the sector’s capacity to expand production.
He argued that Nigeria must address insecurity, strengthen accountability in agricultural financing, improve infrastructure and explore alternative farming methods to reduce dependence on traditional land-based production.
The article concludes that sustainable food security will require more than distributing agricultural inputs or announcing new programmes. It will depend on effective implementation, responsible use of public funds and creating conditions in which farmers can safely produce and transport food.
