The National Agricultural Development Fund and the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience have entered into a partnership aimed at improving Nigeria’s ability to anticipate and respond to threats affecting food production.
The collaboration will see the establishment of an Agricultural Early Warning System expected to supply farmers, investors, government agencies and other stakeholders with timely data for planning and decision making across the agricultural sector.
The agreement was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the headquarters of the Fund in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Communications at NADF, Onikepo Babalola, the initiative is intended to strengthen national response mechanisms against risks capable of disrupting agricultural activities and food supply chains.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed A. Ibrahim, said the partnership aligns with the organisation’s efforts to improve support structures for farmers and agribusiness operators facing growing environmental and economic pressures.
He observed that challenges such as changing weather conditions, land degradation, pest infestations and instability in agricultural markets continue to threaten productivity and discourage investment in farming.
Ibrahim stated that the proposed warning system would enable authorities and stakeholders to identify risks earlier and take preventive action before situations worsen.
He added that emergency response and resilience support remain central to the Fund’s mandate, noting that the collaboration represents a shift towards preventive measures rather than waiting until crises occur.
Director General of OSPRE, Chris Ngwodo, described the agreement as a significant development in efforts to strengthen food security and improve climate resilience across communities.
Ngwodo explained that the agency was created under ECOWAS early warning protocols to monitor issues linked to environmental threats, food systems and social stability.
He further stressed that national security extends beyond physical safety to include livelihoods, climate related risks and the wellbeing of communities dependent on agriculture.
