Following the deadly attack on farmers in Yelewata, Benue State, agriculture stakeholders are calling on President Bola Tinubu to protect food-producing areas across Nigeria urgently. Farmers say the continued violence threatens the country’s ability to grow enough food, especially during the wet season when most planting takes place.
Sandra Victor-Gwafan, head of DeBranch Farmers Limited, described the situation as dangerous for national food security. She listed Benue, Plateau, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Taraba, and Niger as key agricultural states under threat. According to her, farmers are being chased off their lands, crops destroyed, and entire villages abandoned. She warned that if these attacks continue, Nigeria may soon face a major food crisis.
Victor-Gwafan called for a shift from temporary solutions to long-term security strategies. She recommended setting up permanent agro-security units, introducing early warning systems using local intelligence, and creating safe farming zones backed by military and local support. She also urged government support for displaced farmers, better local conflict resolution, and access to subsidized inputs and agricultural insurance. She stressed that without safety and support, farmers cannot meet the country’s food needs.
Jerry Tobi, CEO of Jet FarmsNG and popularly known as the Chief Farmer of Africa, echoed the same concerns. He asked the federal government to launch a full security task force to protect farming areas. Tobi advised that the response must be organized and well-planned, covering not only safety but also climate change and economic issues.
He called for stronger security systems, support for climate-resilient farming, and direct economic help such as farm equipment and youth-focused agribusiness projects. Tobi also urged the government to set up a Presidential Food Security Council, revive agricultural training centers, and speed up the national land bank policy. He added that Nigeria should work closely with neighboring countries and support cross-border food security programs like the Sahel emergency appeal.
These calls come as food prices continue to rise and insecurity spreads, placing Nigeria’s food supply in a fragile position. Without fast and firm action, experts warn the nation could face a deeper crisis in the months ahead.
