The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has confirmed ongoing plans to work closely with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to expand food production efforts across Nigeria.
This move is in line with the government’s aim to improve food security through stronger partnerships and increased support for agriculture.
This was made known when the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, received the newly appointed FAO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr Gudain Hussein, and his team during a visit to Abuja.
According to a statement shared by the Ministry’s Director of Information and Publicity, Funmi Imuetinyan, the visit centered on building cooperation around irrigation, water management, and agricultural investment. Utsev reiterated the federal government’s commitment to attracting both public and private sector involvement in agriculture, particularly in food production and the development of supporting infrastructure.
During the meeting, the Minister referenced the administration’s earlier declaration of a state of emergency on food security as evidence of its focused attention on improving the country’s agricultural output. He added that the Ministry is open to working with development partners such as FAO through its Irrigation and Drainage Department.
Dr Hussein, in his remarks, noted that the purpose of his visit was to brief the Minister about the upcoming FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative scheduled to take place in Abuja from 16 to 18 September 2025. Themed “Investment in Irrigation and Water Resources”, the forum will focus on encouraging investment in key areas of agricultural development.
The FAO representative pointed out that agriculture accounts for nearly 90 percent of water usage, making the Ministry a key player in future planning and policy development.
He explained that the Abuja event will create space for investment discussions and collaborative planning across areas such as irrigation, capacity building, and sustainable resource management.
As part of the ongoing partnership, Hussein proposed the creation of a joint technical committee between FAO and the Ministry.
This committee would be responsible for shaping a framework that guides future cooperation in areas including crops, livestock, environmental protection, and food sustainability.
