FG, FAO Begin Zonal Talks on Plan to Prepare Nigeria for Food Crises

News in Brief:

— Nigeria kicks off zonal consultations to develop a National Food and Nutrition Crisis Preparedness Plan (NFNCPP) to protect farmers and households from food crises.

— The first session, for the North-East, was held in Maiduguri, with five more expected across the six geopolitical zones throughout October 2026.

The Federal Government has begun zonal consultations with stakeholders towards building the National Food and Nutrition Crisis Preparedness Plan (NFNCPP) to protect farmers and households from food crises.

The Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), held the first consultation in Maiduguri, Borno State. Five more are planned across the country's six geo-political zones throughout October 2026.

Early Warning Systems

The NFNCPP aims to strengthen early warning, reduce risks and speed up coordinated action to protect food and nutrition security in Nigeria.

Food and nutrition crises, which have plagued Nigeria for several years, typically occur when several risks combine.

These risks include climate shocks, insecurity, production constraints, market disruptions, economic pressures and disruptions to regional or global supply chains. And they worsen one another as they cross state borders with varying levels of severity.

According to the committee, managing these risks requires strong systems to spot emerging threats, assess their combined impact and coordinate timely action. This is the principle behind the NFNCPP.

Thus, Interoperability is central to this plan. It considers how institutions, information systems, and stakeholders across the three tiers of government and international partners connect, share information, and coordinate resources.

Using technology, expertise and existing capabilities, the plan will create a shared national picture of emerging risks. The organisers say this will support better-informed decisions, early risk management and coordinated interventions to safeguard lives and livelihoods.

North-East States Share Experience

The first zonal consultation session in Maiduguri brought representatives from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states, alongside federal institutions, security agencies and development partners.

Participants shared existing early warning and response capabilities, identified ways to collaborate more closely and helped shape a national framework that reflects state experiences and priorities.

In his welcome address, the Borno State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engr. Bawu Musami commended the initiative for bringing stakeholders together. He noted that the forum has the potential to bring about effective results.

"Borno has built real experience in supporting farmers and communities through difficult seasons, and we are proud to host the first of these consultations. Every State brings knowledge and systems that can strengthen the whole country," Musami said.

He explained that by sharing, identifying risks early and acting together, participants can support farmers and protect livelihoods.

FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, said the country can no longer depend on reactive responses to food crises.

"Recurrent climate shocks, economic pressures, and security challenges mean we can no longer afford to rely on reactive responses to food crises. Bringing State and Federal actors together through these zonal consultations is enabling local insights and field data to directly shape Nigeria's crisis preparedness framework," Gadain declared.

He added that the organisation remains committed to supporting the Government of Nigeria. This new development could turn early warnings into anticipatory action that safeguards vulnerable communities before crises escalate into emergencies.

What Happens Next

According to the organisers, the consultations will continue in the remaining five geopolitical zones throughout October 2026. The experiences and priorities of all states will shape an integrated national preparedness system that the NFNCPP aims to build.