Agricultural experts and government officials have called for the promotion of healthy diets and sustainable food systems as key steps to achieving food security in Nigeria.
They made the call on Thursday during a walk to mark the 2025 World Food Day celebration in Abuja, themed “Our Actions Are Our Future – Healthy Diets, Sustainable Food Systems for All.”
The stakeholders stressed that ensuring food security requires a system that not only feeds people but also protects the land, water, and the environment from climate shocks.
The President of the Coalition of Farmers Association of Nigeria (COFAN), Abubakar Bamai, represented by the group’s General Secretary, Mr. Pius Olugbenga, said the daily choices Nigerians make in producing and consuming food determine the quality of the nation’s future.
Bamai urged relevant agencies to provide accessible cold rooms, silos, and processing centres at the grassroots to reduce post-harvest losses.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Livestock, describing it as a step in the right direction.
Speaking further, Bamai noted that Nigeria’s forests play a crucial but often overlooked role in food security.
“Our forests are not just homes to biodiversity; they are essential for soil fertility, water regulation, and climate stability,” he said.
“By protecting them, we strengthen the very foundation of sustainable food systems.”
Mrs. Chioma Okafor, Principal Scientific Officer representing the Ministry of Environment, said any plan for food security must begin with environmental protection and conservation.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting climate-smart agriculture and community-based forest management.
Also speaking, Mrs. Peace Evans, Principal Education Officer representing the Ministry of Education, encouraged Nigerian youths to see agriculture as a career opportunity and a means of empowerment.
“We must change the perception that farming is only for the old,” she said.
“Sustainable food systems and healthy diets are not just about feeding people — they are profitable ventures and a path to national transformation.”
Mr. Chinedu Agbaji, National Coordinator of the Urban Farmers’ Cooperative Society (UFCS), said food security is a shared responsibility.
Dailypost/DeborahOlayiwola
Healthy diets, sustainable systems key to Nigeria’s food security – Experts
