Experts Urge Integrated Approach to Nigeria's Food Security

At the 2026 Sahel Changemakers Conference in Abuja, agriculture and development experts criticized Nigeria's fragmented approach to food and nutrition security. They emphasized the need for collaboration among government institutions, private sector operators, development partners, and civil society organizations.

Ndidi Okonkwo, Executive Board Chair of Sahel Consulting, highlighted the detrimental effects of treating agriculture, healthcare, and nutrition as separate issues, citing Nigeria's alarming child mortality rate of one in nine children dying before age five. Okonkwo pointed out that maternal and child health outcomes are influenced by interconnected factors such as maternal malnutrition and inadequate healthcare services.

She noted that many mothers face vitamin A and iodine deficiencies, while access to clean water is limited. Okonkwo recalled a past initiative by Sahel Consulting that aimed to integrate agricultural support with healthcare services, but lamented the lack of progress.

She urged policymakers to design programs that address food, health, and nutrition challenges collectively, rather than within institutional silos.