The Federal Government has raised alarm over the imminent threat of flooding to Nigeria’s agricultural sector, with more than 51 percent of the country’s farming areas identified as high-risk zones.
This was disclosed by Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, during an agricultural insurance workshop held in Abuja on Thursday.
Citing the 2024 flood outlook report from the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Abdullahi revealed that 148 local government areas (LGAs) across 31 states are categorized as high-risk for flooding.
Additionally, 249 LGAs in all 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been classified as moderate flood-risk zones.
“In simple terms, 397 LGAs out of the total 774 LGAs in Nigeria, representing over 51 percent of our farming areas, are at risk of flooding,” Abdullahi said.
“We are witnessing the clear and present existential threats of climate change and its impact on our local food systems.”
To mitigate the impending risks, the ministry is planning a collaboration with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) and PULA Advisors to incorporate agricultural insurance into the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) programme.
This initiative is seen as essential to ensuring the sustainability and security of Nigeria’s food systems in the face of climate change.
The NAGS-AP programme, which began during the 2023 dry season with wheat cultivation, resulted in a successful harvest. However, Abdullahi emphasized that achieving good yields is just one part of the challenge.
The primary focus, he said, is now on safeguarding the significant investments and interventions made by the government, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), to ensure long-term food security.
“These initiatives are crucial for ensuring the sustainability and security of our local food systems, particularly as we confront the challenge of feeding a growing population,” Abdullahi noted in a post on X.
The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting farmers and securing the future of agriculture in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of partnerships with NAIC to safeguard the sector against climate-induced risks.