Nigeria is taking major steps to safeguard its food system as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security convenes an expert workshop in Abuja to review and validate the National Integrated Pest and Plant Diseases Management Strategy. The initiative aims to boost the country’s preparedness and response to transboundary and migratory agricultural pests that continue to threaten national food security.
Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the exercise marks a decisive moment in efforts to protect crops and strengthen agricultural productivity. He noted that Nigeria has in recent years suffered significant losses from pests such as the Fall Armyworm, ginger blight, Tuta absoluta, and quelea birds — outbreaks that have severely affected smallholder farmers and undermined national food stability.
Dr. Ogunbiyi emphasized that the revised strategy will provide a science-based and sustainable framework anchored on Integrated Pest Management. He said the goal is to enhance prevention, early detection, and rapid response systems while ensuring that solutions remain environmentally safe and adaptable to emerging pest challenges driven by climate change and evolving farming systems.
Also speaking, Director of Plant Health and Pest Control Services, Dr. Grace Iwendi, said the workshop is crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s surveillance and rapid-response capacity. She stressed that migratory pests and invasive plant diseases have become more aggressive due to climate variability and increased movement of people and goods, making a harmonized national strategy indispensable.
Participants, including researchers, development partners, and private-sector stakeholders, are expected to evaluate the draft document, identify gaps, and align the strategy with global best practices. The Ministry acknowledged the support of partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization for their continued technical assistance in strengthening Nigeria’s plant health systems.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the reviewed strategy through stronger extension services, enhanced farmer training, and improved early warning systems. The workshop continues in Abuja with expectations for a validated national framework that will bolster crop protection, safeguard livelihoods, and reinforce food security.
