The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to anticipate, monitor and respond to threats affecting agricultural production and national food security.
The collaboration will facilitate the establishment of an Agricultural Early Warning System designed to provide farmers, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders with timely and reliable information for planning, risk management and decision-making across the agricultural sector.
The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the headquarters of the National Agricultural Development Fund in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Communications of NADF Onikepo Babalola, the initiative is intended to strengthen national preparedness and response mechanisms against threats capable of disrupting agricultural activities and food supply chains.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed A. Ibrahim, said the partnership aligns with the Fund’s commitment to enhancing support systems for farmers and agribusiness operators facing increasing environmental and economic challenges.
He noted that factors such as climate variability land degradation, pest, disease outbreaks and instability in agricultural markets continue to threaten productivity and discourage investment in the sector.
According to Ibrahim, the proposed Agricultural Early Warning System will enable government agencies, farmers and other stakeholders to identify emerging risks at an early stage and take proactive measures before they escalate into major crises.
He emphasised that emergency response and resilience-building remain central to the Fund’s mandate adding that the partnership reflects a strategic shift towards prevention and preparedness rather than reactive interventions.
“This collaboration will help create a more resilient agricultural sector by providing timely information that supports informed decision-making and effective risk management” he said.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience Chris Ngwodo described the agreement as a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen food security and enhance climate resilience across Nigeria.
Ngwodo explained that OSPRE was established in line with regional early warning frameworks under the Economic Community of West African States to monitor risks associated with environmental threats, food systems, livelihoods and social stability.
He stressed that national security extends beyond traditional concerns of physical safety to include climate-related risks, food availability, economic wellbeing and the resilience of communities that depend on agriculture for survival.
According to him strengthening early warning mechanisms will improve Nigeria’s ability to anticipate shocks, coordinate responses and protect vulnerable populations from disruptions caused by environmental and economic pressures.
Stakeholders noted that the partnership has the potential to improve agricultural planning, reduce production losses, enhance investment confidence and support evidence-based policymaking.
They added that access to timely and accurate risk information will be critical in helping Nigeria build a more resilient food system capable of withstanding the growing challenges posed by climate change, market volatility, pests, diseases and other threats to agricultural development.
