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| President Bola Amend Tinubu |
President Bola Tinubu warned in May 2025 that Nigeria’s stability depends on feeding people and including all regions. He spoke at the Taraba International Investment Summit in Jalingo on May 21, 2025. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu said, “Food sufficiency is the first currency of national stability”. He urged Nigeria to invest in farming and production. He also stressed unity: “Every region has a role to play… the deficiency of one region is often redeemed by the sufficiency of the other”. In other words, Tinubu linked food security and regional inclusion directly to peace.
Tinubu’s full speech highlighted concrete plans. He said Taraba State, in Nigeria’s north, would become a hub for farms and industry. The president called for modern tools for farmers. “Our farmers must transition from hoes to tractors and harvesters,” he said. He praised Taraba’s tea, coffee and cattle as national assets. He noted the Kashimbila Dam’s power potential, and he promised federal support: “We are committed partners in your progress,” he told officials. His message was clear: no Nigerian area should be left behind.
However, Nigeria faces a serious hunger problem. Even though agriculture is a big part of the economy (about 22% of GDP in 2024), many Nigerians struggle to eat. Food prices have surged. The National Bureau of Statistics reports food inflation around 21–23% in 2025. This means food costs much more than last year (in April 2024 food inflation was 40.5%). Staple crops are in short supply. FAO data show that Nigeria’s cereal output in 2024 was about 28.5 million tonnes, slightly below average. Production is slowed by conflict and weather. Droughts and floods hurt farms; farmers lack modern tools and water systems.
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| Rice seedlings being planted by a tractor on a farm in Bauchi, Nigeria. |
Many Nigerian farmers still work with very basic tools. Over 80% are smallholders, using hoes and hand tools. A Washington Post report noted that without irrigation and with drying rivers, yields are falling. For example, in Sokoto state, a farmer said he now must pump expensive groundwater just to keep crops alive. These problems and the high cost of diesel mean crops fail. As water ran low in 2023, the yield of cabbage and other vegetables dropped, so a head of cabbage in Lagos rose to N2,000 – five times its price in the farm region.
Many people are already going hungry. UN agencies warn that 25–33 million Nigerians could face acute food insecurity. A UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report said about 25.1 million people (12% of the population) were in crisis or worse late in 2024. The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF said in late 2024 that up to 33 million people may need food help in 2025. They cite record inflation, climate shocks, and violence as causes. The WFP highlighted hunger hotspots in the northeast (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe) and northwest (Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto). Millions of children and mothers are at risk of malnutrition as conflicts and rising prices strain families.
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| A Nigerian farmer planting crops by hand. |
To address this, Tinubu’s government has launched programs. In April 2025, he declared a national emergency on food security. At an irrigation conference in Abuja, Tinubu urged expanding dams and water systems nationwide. He noted Nigeria has over 3.1 million hectares of irrigable land along major rivers. He announced Nigeria will start a new “SPIN” project (with the World Bank) to improve irrigation, building on an earlier project (TRIMING).
Also, in early 2024 the National Economic Council (governors and FG officials) set concrete steps. They arranged for fertilizer companies (Dangote, Notore etc.) to secure supplies for farmers. They agreed to have “Agro-Rangers” patrol farms and even consider state police units to protect farmers from bandits. They will also release 42,000 tonnes of grain from reserves to lower food prices. These moves aim to help farmers and control food costs.
Aid groups and partners are active too. The UN’s WFP and FAO are scaling up support, and Nigeria leads calls for more help. For example, WFP spokespersons have urged donors to fund food aid for the growing millions in need. Many NGOs and foundations have stepped in. The Aliko Dangote Foundation in 2025 launched a National Food Intervention that will give over 1 million 10-kg bags of rice to the poorest Nigerians. Dangote said this shows solidarity in tough times. He assured that distribution will reach all states, partnering with state governments. In Lagos, IITA and others are teaching climate-smart farming and providing seeds and tools to communities. These efforts by government, UN and industry aim to cushion the crisis.
Tinubu made clear he wants all regions to share in growth. Nigeria has 36 states across six zones, and gaps have been wide. World Bank data show the North still lags far behind the South in wealth and education. In fact, 87% of Nigeria’s poor lived in the North in 2016 (the North West alone held about half of all poor people). The southern states, by contrast, cut poverty significantly between 2011 and 2016. This north–south divide in development fuels discontent and conflict. Tinubu’s call for inclusion is a response to these imbalances. He said every corner of Nigeria – from Lagos and Kano to Taraba and the Niger Delta – has gifts to offer. He wants new roads, factories and schools built across the country, not just in the biggest cities.
Federal and state governments have tried policies for inclusion. The 1999 Constitution guarantees that oil wealth is shared (13% derivation goes to producing states), and each state manages its own farms and local projects. In practice, however, poorer states often lack money. Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda aims to correct this. For example, he highlighted Taraba’s potential to investors, to draw projects there. Other southern states like Edo and Ebonyi have hosted agro-industrial summits. At the federal level, the president asked ministers to involve local leaders in planning and warned against favouring only one region.
Analysts say reducing these regional gaps is vital for unity. As one study notes, “Implementing equitable distribution of resources and opportunities will alleviate tensions arising from perceived marginalization, thereby fostering a more unified nation”. In other words, if people in a poor area see roads, schools and markets improve, they are less likely to feel resentful. By giving farm loans, equipment and security to lagging zones, the government hopes to tap local talents and ease distrust.
Still, challenges remain. Farmers in conflict zones often cannot farm safely. Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast and armed bandits in the northwest have burned villages and blocked roads. Attacks on farmers in Zamfara and Kaduna have pushed many people from their lands. The federal government and some states have tried to boost security (as with the Agro-Rangers program) and to involve community leaders in peace talks. In the Niger Delta, oil-rich states feel excluded from agriculture plans, but officials say new youth agriculture programs will cover these regions too.
Economically, inclusion supports growth. Investors like Dangote and others have warned that if only one region grows, it hurts the whole country. Dangote told the Taraba summit that Nigeria must “create wealth” at home rather than import it. He said if local industries expand, “foreign investors will come” to join them. Fellow entrepreneur Tony Elumelu noted that boosting food and manufacturing can give youth jobs and “multiply Nigeria’s wealth”. In short, they argue that a balanced economy with all regions contributing will raise output and relieve poverty for everyone.
Many analysts agree that food scarcity and exclusion strain Nigeria’s unity. When farmers cannot feed their families, they may join conflicts or migrate. Studies show that Boko Haram militants have thrived in areas where farming was destroyed, and people depend on food aid. Likewise, chronic conflicts breed poverty: one paper warns that violence in rural markets leads to worse hunger. Conversely, stable and prosperous farms can reduce crime. Tinubu’s focus on farms is partly to counter this cycle. If people in troubled regions see their fields become fertile again and markets open, they have a stake in peace.
Wide disparities also fuel political tensions. Some groups have accused previous governments of favoritism. Tinubu’s pledge of “regional economic inclusion” directly responds to those fears. For example, the Northern Elders Forum had raised concerns about imbalances, and southern leaders also demand fairness. By publicly saying that no region should be left out, the president is trying to reassure all Nigerians. Experts note this message must be matched by actions. As one analyst put it, Nigeria must invest in areas with high poverty and instability, or risk social unrest.
On economic development, food security is key. Agriculture employs most Nigerians, so raising farm yields would grow the economy. WFP reports that every dollar spent on smallholder agriculture in Africa yields up to four dollars in economic benefits. Conversely, high food prices and hunger can drag down growth. Indeed, Nigeria had to import far more food than it exports: over 2016–2019 its farm imports were four times its exports. That trade gap drains foreign currency and forces food aid. By strengthening local farming, Tinubu hopes to reverse that. His policies (like emphasis on local processing and value chains) aim to make Nigeria less dependent on overseas crops.
Leaders from business and international agencies have weighed in. At the Taraba summit, Ghanaian fertilizer king Alhaji Otumfuo Osei Tutu II urged Nigeria to exploit its rich land and minerals, and lauded Tinubu’s vision. He noted that during oil booms, Africa learned “wealth should be created, not begged for”. Dangote himself called for incentives to let local firms grow and hire youth. Tony Elumelu, chair of Heirs Holdings, agreed: he said growing agriculture and small industry will give jobs to millions of young Nigerians.
International experts echo these views. The WFP, FAO and UNICEF experts emphasize that food and peace go hand in hand. In November 2024 they warned Nigeria: “Never before have there been so many people without food”, and urged urgent aid. An FAO briefing said crop output was only slightly below normal in 2024, but noted that serious disruption of supply chains and credit for farmers is a risk. Development economists note that Nigeria’s agrarian issues are partly world problems: climate change is shrinking yields in the savanna, and global price spikes hit Nigeria hard because it imports wheat and rice.
Some critics point out that much is unproven. They say Nigeria still spends too little on farming and that distribution problems persist. For example, a study shows that many poor Nigerians, especially women, lack access to loans and land. But even critics agree with the goal: they urge the government to act fast on its promises. A recent university paper stressed that only by quickly investing in underserved areas and sharing resources fairly can Nigeria avoid repeat crises.
The United Nations and African institutions have offered support. WFP says it is prioritizing food aid to 1.1 million vulnerable people in the North. The AU has adopted a continental plan to boost crops by 2035, which Nigeria has signed up for. Local NGOs like Action Against Hunger and Catholic Relief Services are already scaling up programs in northeast and middle-belt states. Even the military is promoting community farming in conflict areas to keep young men busy.
President Tinubu’s speech put a spotlight on these interconnected issues: hunger and divide. His strong words resonate with many Nigerians who have felt the pain of empty markets and embattled villages. The data show he is not alone in this view: experts across sectors say that no country can be stable if people can’t eat or feel left out. As one World Bank analysis concludes, Nigeria must bridge the north-south gap and spread opportunity to reduce poverty and conflict.
Going forward, progress will depend on follow-through. Farmers will watch if government projects and markets really expand into their towns. Citizens will judge if new wells and roads reach remote areas. If Tinubu’s policies bring cheaper food, safer farms and better schools to all zones, Nigeria’s unity and growth will likely strengthen. Constructive dialogue and inclusive planning – as echoed by economists and community leaders – remain key. In the words of the state’s slogan, “together we stand,” which may yet guide Nigeria through this food security challenge toward a more stable future.