The Federal Government has launched the AgriShield Initiative in Borno State to strengthen farm security, support agricultural recovery and ensure farmers can safely transport their produce to markets.
The initiative, led by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in partnership with TAG International, will initially run from October to December in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere and Mafa Local Government Areas.
Special Adviser to the National Security Adviser on Strategic Communication and Civil Society Liaison, Dr Chido Onumah, said the initiative was designed to connect security interventions with livelihoods, agricultural recovery and food supply.
He explained that the campaign’s message, “Our Presence is Your Peace,” reflected the concerns of farming communities, where security means being able to access farmland, cultivate crops throughout the season and transport harvests to markets without fear.
Onumah said a baseline survey of 1,409 residents across 18 wards in the three local government areas revealed a significant gap between government security efforts and public awareness of the interventions.
According to him, only 17 per cent of respondents were aware of local initiatives to counter violent extremism, while awareness of the NCTC stood at about two per cent. This was despite 86 per cent of respondents expressing strong interest in information about how the government protects them.
The survey identified unemployment, cost of living and food insecurity as the leading concerns, cited by 81 per cent, 70 per cent and 57 per cent of respondents, respectively. Terrorism was identified as a concern by 29 per cent.
Onumah said the findings highlighted the need for government communication to go beyond security statistics and demonstrate how interventions improve safety, livelihoods and economic activities in affected communities.
The pilot programme will use radio broadcasts, community town hall meetings, local drama, farmer testimonies and digital content to reach residents.
Four radio stations are expected to broadcast 24 talk shows and 80 jingles in Hausa and Kanuri, while six town hall meetings will bring together farmers, traditional and religious leaders, youths, women and security agencies to discuss local concerns.
Onumah said radio was selected as a major communication channel because 67 per cent of survey respondents accessed information through the medium, while 41 per cent identified it as their most trusted source.
Facebook and TikTok will also be used to reach younger audiences, while SMS and telephone engagement will target farmers with limited internet access.
The initiative involves the Nigeria Police Force, Defence Headquarters, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, National Orientation Agency, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and NIRSAL Plc.
Onumah said the NSCDC would contribute through its Agro-Rangers mandate, while the National Orientation Agency would use its grassroots structures to mobilise communities and promote engagement in local languages. Defence Headquarters would also provide strategic communication support and media platforms.
The initiative will further work with the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, which comprises about 200 organisations, while TAG International will provide technical support in research, campaign design, content development, monitoring and evaluation.
He said participating agencies would operate under a coordinated communication framework to ensure that public information was verified and consistent, without compromising security operations or exposing communities to additional risks.
Onumah said the campaign’s impact would be assessed through an endline survey in December, focusing on changes in public awareness, trust and understanding of government security interventions.
He said AgriShield reflected the government’s recognition that food security was inseparable from human security, noting that safer farming communities were better positioned to produce food, sustain livelihoods and resist conditions exploited by violent groups.
According to him, the initiative ultimately seeks to create an environment where farmers can cultivate their land and secure their livelihoods without fear, enabling them to produce food for their families, communities and the wider Nigerian market.
