Preparing for a food-secure Nigeria post Covid-19
For decades, Nigerian agriculture has not been competitive in international markets, in terms of volumes produced, quality, and hygiene standards, as well as pricing. The last five years have seen an increasingly centralized approach, with the federal government taking on a coordinating role, and even resorting to Executive Orders to drive changes that it deems necessary.
One of the recent examples of this is the ban on food imports in a bid to encourage local production. But as more cities begin to ease lockdown restrictions, the widespread belief that the agricultural sector will lead Nigeria’s economic recovery is being called into question. The dilapidated state of primary infrastructure, such as electricity and rural access roads, underscores the need for major investments if the country expects farmers to boost production and ensure “that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food”.
To set the country on the path to improved agricultural productivity and becoming a more competitive player in the global market, there is a critical need “to invest massively in the kind of infrastructure that would support the emergence of digital services in the rural communities of the continent.”
An example of the practical constraints that farmers in the south west face during land acquisition. Under the current system, prospective farmers have to lobby a string of public officials and local authorities (Omo Onile) for the required permit to build small structures and begin farming operations. Such bureaucracy, coupled with violent confrontations between farmers and pastoral communities, presents one of the greatest obstacles to young people interested in farming.
Despite its potential, therefore, the agricultural sector is at present one of the most challenging endeavors for Nigerians. The plight of many citizens has been magnified during the current crisis, due to a combination of corruption, restriction of movement, and reduced livelihood opportunities, especially in informal sector.
Which way forward?
In many ways, infrastructure can boost farming output and make supply chain operations more efficient. In addition to facilitating food transportation through a good road network, well-managed water supply systems can alleviate the costs of investing in irrigation at the farm level.
Nigeria’s reversal of fortunes in the post Covid-19 era could take a while, but a focus on improving governance, as well as strategic revitalization of the agricultural sector, can yield major returns. . In the long term, it’s critical that Nigeria takes the steps to build resilient, climate-smart, and competitive food systems that will support food security during the pandemic and beyond.
Written by Dorcas Abimbola Omole
This article is part of Covid-19 Food/Future, an initiative under TMG ThinkTank for Sustainability’s SEWOH Lab project (https://www.tmg-thinktank.com/sewoh-lab). It aims at providing a unique and direct insight into the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on national and local food systems. Also follow @CovidFoodFuture, our Video Diaries From Nairobi, and @TMG_think on Twitter. Funding for this initiative is provided by BMZ, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
