Chairman, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Agric and Agro Allied Group, Tunde Banjoko has said that insecurity has robbed the country of a major portion of its productive land for almost sixteen years, slowing food output and weakening confidence among farmers.
This comes after President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency aimed at reclaiming rural communities long troubled by armed groups.
Banjoko explained that Nigeria may boast more than 80 million hectares of arable land, yet less than half is actively cultivated because many farmers have been driven away by fear of attacks.
He believed that restoring safety in high-production zones will open the way for a surge in agricultural activity, reduce the constant threats of kidnapping and killings, and help stabilise food prices.
He added that sincerity from all parties and strong political will are essential if the new security drive is to translate into real gains for food production.
Managing Director of BIC Farms Concept , Adebowale Onafowora, said the new security mobilisation can only produce long lasting results if the protection offered to farmers becomes consistent and reliable.
He warned that simply deploying more security personnel without ensuring continuous access to farmland will offer only temporary relief.
According to him, the authorities must secure and hold major farming belts by creating well protected movement corridors that farmers can trust daily. He emphasised that intelligence driven operations are necessary to disrupt criminal networks and prevent attacks before they occur.
Until farmers are convinced that security forces will remain present, he expects most of them to begin returning only to fields close to urban centres.
On his part, Anibe Achimugu, President of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria, said there can be no meaningful revival of agriculture without safety, describing security as the first farm input.
He explained that many smallholder farmers abandoned high value crops such as cotton because they were unsure they would survive long enough to harvest them.
Achimugu believes a sustained focus on rural communities will gradually rebuild confidence, enabling farmers to increase their cultivated areas and re-enter contract agreements with ginneries.
He urged the government to partner with farmer groups to identify and secure vulnerable routes and to support producers who have lost entire seasons with inputs, soft financing and basic infrastructure.
