Bola Tinubu on Monday declared a national emergency on food security in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need to expand irrigation infrastructure and adopt participatory water resource management across the country. The declaration was made during the opening of the 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage held in Abuja, where Tinubu was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.
Highlighting the theme of the conference, “Tackling Irrigation Development and Water Management Crisis in Africa,” Tinubu described it as a clarion call for sustainable agriculture and economic resilience. He noted that Africa faces significant challenges in unlocking its irrigation potential due to inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, climate change, and governance issues. Nigeria alone has over 3.1 million hectares of irrigable land around major river basins such as the Niger and Benue, which remain underutilized.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, outlined government achievements under the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, which has delivered key irrigation schemes like Dadin-Kowa and Bakolori, and nearly completed the Middle Rima Valley project. He announced the launch of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project, in partnership with the World Bank, to build on TRIMING’s successes and further optimize water resource use to support food security.
Prof. Utsev also highlighted the establishment of Water Users Associations, farmer management centers, and market linkages for critical value chains such as rice and tomato. River Basin Development Authorities have developed over 153,000 hectares of irrigable land, with efforts underway to commercialize these areas to attract private sector investment. Additionally, the government has introduced a 2025 Flood Outlook and Risk Management Strategy to mitigate flood impacts on agriculture.
The conference brought together traditional rulers, government officials, and experts who stressed the importance of innovation, inclusivity, and multi-level governance in addressing food security challenges. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State warned about shrinking farming seasons due to climate change and called for empowering women and youth in agriculture. The Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Didi Wilson-Jack, urged renewed commitment from all government tiers to ensure national food security.
Despite the declaration and ongoing initiatives, Nigeria continues to face a worsening food crisis. Recent reports indicate that over 30 million Nigerians are projected to face acute food insecurity by mid-2025, driven by factors including insecurity, inflation, climate shocks, and inadequate agricultural productivity. Experts have criticized the government for insufficient budgetary allocation and slow policy implementation, warning that without practical, grassroots-driven solutions, the food security situation may deteriorate further.
The national emergency declaration and the conference underscore the critical need for coordinated action, innovation, and investment in irrigation and water management to secure Nigeria’s food future and build resilience against climate and economic shocks. The conference will continue until April 17, featuring technical sessions, policy dialogues, and field visits to irrigation sites across Nigeria.
