Tinubu’s Government Teams Up with FAO in Bold Move to End Hunger in Nigeria

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its dedication to strengthening food security in Nigeria through collaborative efforts with global development partners, with the goal of scaling up agricultural investment and productivity nationwide.

This assurance was given during a high-level courtesy visit by the newly appointed Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to Nigeria, Dr. Gudain Hussein, and his team, to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, in Abuja.

According to iReporter Online, Professor Utsev emphasized the Tinubu-led administration’s unwavering commitment to achieving food security. He recalled that this commitment prompted the declaration of a state of emergency on food security, which is now driving sustained investment initiatives across the agricultural value chain.

Utsev assured the visiting FAO delegation of the Ministry’s full cooperation—particularly through its Department of Irrigation and Drainage—to align with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the Ministry stands ready to contribute meaningfully to enhancing irrigation systems and ensuring effective water resource management to boost food production.

He further commended the FAO’s upcoming Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which he described as a timely platform to attract investment and unify key stakeholders in the collective effort to address food insecurity.

Dr. Hussein explained that the visit was primarily to notify the Minister of the forthcoming FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative for the Sahel region, themed “Investment in Irrigation and Water Resources”, which is scheduled to take place in Abuja from September 16 to 18, 2025. He stressed the critical role the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation will play in the summit, particularly given that agriculture accounts for nearly 90 percent of the nation’s water consumption.

He also pointed out that the forum would serve as a strategic platform to mobilize partnerships and funding—ranging from grants and loans to technical support—across various sectors such as crop production, livestock, forestry, biodiversity, climate adaptation, and food sustainability.

In a forward-looking proposal, Dr. Hussein advocated for the establishment of a joint technical committee between the FAO and the Ministry, aimed at developing a robust policy framework to guide their strategic collaboration in advancing food and agricultural resilience across the country.