Nigeria, Spain Strengthen Bilateral Ties on Food Security

News in brief:

-Nigeria and Spain have pledged stronger collaboration on climate-resilient food systems, livestock reform and nutrition, supported by regional and multilateral partners.

-UNICEF warns that 35 million Nigerians could face food insecurity in 2026, with three million children at risk of severe acute malnutrition.

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation on food security, nutrition and sustainable livestock development.

This formed the focus of a High-Level Meeting, recently convened by the Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Antón Leis García.

Conveying the greetings of the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, commended Spain’s sustained support for sustainable food systems, climate adaptation and social protection initiatives across West Africa.

Nigeria’s Livestock Reform Agenda

Akujobi outlined priority areas including addressing feed and fodder scarcity, rehabilitating grazing reserves, strengthening surveillance and biosecurity systems and promoting gender inclusion across livestock value chains.

She emphasised that Nigeria aims to transform its livestock ecosystem into a climate-resilient, market-oriented and inclusive system capable of delivering long-term food security and improved nutrition outcomes.

According to her, strengthened bilateral cooperation with Spain, alongside multilateral and humanitarian partners, will accelerate the development of sustainable solutions for farmers, pastoralists, women, and vulnerable populations.

Spain Calls for Knowledge Sharing and Regional Solutions

García underscored the urgency of knowledge exchange and regionally led responses amid climate change, floods, droughts and market disruptions.

He reiterated Spain’s commitment to working closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States, and other regional actors to reinforce food systems and improve nutrition outcomes.

Under the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve initiative, which has supported millions across member states, Nigeria hosts one of the largest storage facilities, reinforcing its strategic role in regional food security operations.

Multilateral Partners Highlight Nutrition Risks

The meeting brought together key development institutions, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), as well as civil society organisations.

Presenting the nutrition outlook, UNICEF’s representative projected that an estimated 35 million Nigerians across 27 states could face food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, with approximately three million children at risk of severe acute malnutrition.

Participants stressed that malnutrition remains a leading underlying cause of child mortality, with long-term implications for cognitive development, economic productivity and national growth.

Call for Integrated, Data-Driven Action

Stakeholders agreed on the need for coordinated, data-driven and locally led interventions to strengthen regional food reserves, improve child and maternal nutrition and build resilience against climate shocks.

They emphasised that integrated action across governments, development institutions and humanitarian partners is essential to safeguard food security and ensure inclusive growth across West Africa.