The Director General of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Fatuhu Buhari, has reiterated the vital role quality seeds play in ensuring food security and advancing Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.
Speaking during the handover ceremony from the outgoing acting Director General, Buhari described seeds as the foundation of agricultural productivity and a key driver of a strong and sustainable food system.
“Seeds are the entry point to the entire agricultural value chain. Though small, they hold the power to transform agriculture. Without quality seeds, farms cannot thrive—and without thriving farms, food security remains out of reach,” he said.
Buhari affirmed his commitment to repositioning the Council as a central force in the nation’s food security agenda. He revealed plans to collaborate with research institutions and agri-tech innovators to develop climate-resilient seed varieties suited for evolving environmental conditions.
He also stressed the need to expand seed multiplication initiatives to improve availability and reduce costs for farmers nationwide.
Highlighting the importance of partnerships, Buhari stated that collaboration with seed companies, development partners, and investors would be essential to scaling seed production and distribution efforts.
“This transformation cannot happen in isolation,” he emphasized. “I invite farmers to share feedback that will shape our policies, and I encourage researchers and seed companies to bring forward innovations that can propel our progress. To development partners, your support will amplify our impact and help us build a stronger seed system for Nigeria.”
The outgoing Acting Director General of the National Agriculture Seeds Council (NASC), Dr. Ishiak Khalid, highlighted significant progress made under his leadership, noting that Nigeria’s global standing in the seed industry has improved through key international recognitions. These include the country’s accreditation by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), admission into the OECD Seed Schemes, and its accession as the 80th member of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV)—a major step forward in protecting plant breeders’ rights and encouraging innovation.
Khalid also noted that the Council restructured the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) into a more unified and transparent organization.
To enhance regulatory effectiveness, he said the Council implemented various capacity-building initiatives, introduced digital inspection tools, and organized study tours aimed at boosting the efficiency and reach of its regulatory framework.
Additionally, the launch of the National Seed Roadmap Dashboard was a major development, enabling real-time monitoring of seed production, compliance metrics, and investment prospects.
In his own remarks, NASC Board Chairman, Austine Agada, stressed that addressing food availability is essential to solving broader social and economic issues in the country.
“Ensuring sufficient food supply in Nigeria is key to eliminating poverty and reducing the growing social divides threatening our national unity,” he said, adding that food security remains a top priority for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Agada expressed confidence in the leadership of the new Director General, stating that the solid groundwork laid by the outgoing DG offers a strong platform for further progress.
