The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring national food security through strategic partnerships with development agencies, particularly the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
This assurance was given by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, during a courtesy visit by the newly appointed FAO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Gudain Hussein, and his delegation at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, Director of Information and Public Relations, the meeting focused on aligning efforts to enhance food production through sustainable water and irrigation management.
Prof. Utsev reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to agricultural revitalization, referencing the declaration of a state of emergency on food security and the administration’s push for increased investment in the food value chain. He assured FAO of the Ministry’s readiness, particularly through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, to support the organization’s efforts within the framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that the upcoming FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Summit, scheduled for 16–18 September 2025 in Abuja, would provide a crucial platform to mobilize public and private sector investment for agriculture and food security, especially in irrigation and water resource development.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, also encouraged deeper collaboration between FAO and the Ministry to deliver on the Tinubu administration’s food security mandate.
In his remarks, Dr. Hussein highlighted the critical role of water in agriculture—accounting for nearly 90% of usage—and emphasized the importance of the Ministry’s participation in the upcoming summit. He outlined the goals of the FAO forum, including strategy development, technical cooperation, and investment facilitation through grants, loans, and capacity-building initiatives.
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He further proposed the creation of a technical committee to draft a policy framework for strategic collaboration, focusing on public-private partnerships across agriculture, climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable food systems.
Also present at the meeting were the Director of Irrigation and Drainage, Engr. Mrs. Esther Oyeronke Oluniyi, and the Ministry’s FAO Desk Officer, Engr. Hauwa Sadique Muhammed.
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