Nigerian agricultural stakeholders have called for stronger cross-border collaboration to combat plant pests and diseases threatening cassava production across West and Central Africa, warning that viral crop diseases cannot be effectively contained by individual countries acting alone.
The call was made during the two-day Plant Health Regional Convening in Abuja, themed “Securing Africa’s Harvest: Scaling Impact Through Plant Health Partnerships in Central and West Africa.”
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Professor Chiedozie Egesi, stressed the need for Nigeria to work closely with neighbouring countries, including Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, to contain cassava diseases transmitted by insect vectors.
He noted that effective disease control strategies must focus on managing the insect vectors responsible for spreading infections throughout the cassava value chain.
Egesi commended the institute’s collaboration with the West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) initiative, describing the partnership as a significant contribution to strengthening plant health systems and improving food security across the region.
He described cassava as one of Africa’s most important food and industrial crops, providing food, income and employment for millions of people and said protecting the crop from viral diseases is critical to Nigeria’s food security, economic growth and national security.
“Without food security, there can be no national security,” he said.
The NRCRI chief recalled the institute’s earlier mandate to develop a strategy against Cassava Brown Streak Disease, describing the viral infection as one of the most serious threats to cassava production in the region.
He also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and the Minister of State for Agriculture in advancing regional plant health initiatives.
According to Egesi, the convening is expected to assess existing plant health capacities, strengthen regional cooperation frameworks and develop practical strategies for disease surveillance, preparedness and rapid response.
He added that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with strategic partners during the event would further deepen institutional collaboration in the fight against transboundary crop diseases.
Egesi urged participants to commit to measurable actions that would strengthen disease surveillance systems, improve emergency response mechanisms and build more resilient farming communities, citing NRCRI’s ongoing farmer training programmes on crop disease identification as a model for grassroots engagement.
Also speaking, the National President of the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), Hon. Mustapha Othman Bakano, called for stronger collaboration among government, researchers, farmers and development partners to safeguard cassava genetic resources and strengthen the value chain.
While acknowledging recent progress in the sector, Bakano urged the government to provide greater support for agricultural research institutions and ensure adequate funding for research activities.
He noted that cassava mosaic disease and other production challenges continue to affect farmers, stressing the need for stronger partnerships between researchers and funding agencies to develop lasting solutions.
Bakano also identified poor dissemination of research findings, particularly due to language barriers, as a major obstacle preventing farmers from benefiting fully from scientific innovations.
Drawing from a study visit to Brazil, he encouraged stakeholders to adapt successful approaches in cassava research, technology and value chain development to strengthen Nigeria’s cassava industry and improve regional competitiveness.
