Efforts to tackle food insecurity and strengthen community resilience in Nigeria are gaining momentum, with officials highlighting successful approaches in Kaduna and Nasarawa states.
Speaking on the “Kaduna Peace Model,” a communication and security framework implemented in the state, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, explained during the NIPR Week at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House that the initiative prioritises direct community engagement over reliance on mainstream media platforms.
According to him, excessive exposure through channels such as radio, television, and social media can compromise sensitive operations by alerting criminal elements and putting both security personnel and civilians at risk.
Instead, the model leverages traditional and community-based communication systems, including traditional institutions, town criers, and religious leaders in mosques and churches, alongside structured focus group discussions.
This grassroots approach ensures that information remains tailored, credible, and less susceptible to exploitation by hostile actors.
The Kaduna strategy integrates both kinetic (security operations) and non-kinetic (community engagement) measures.
This dual approach, Maiyaki noted, has produced measurable outcomes. Over 500,000 hectares of farmland have been reclaimed, while average agricultural yields have increased from about 8.0 to over 11.0 metric tons per hectare.
In addition, approximately 500 schools and more than 200 health facilities have been reopened, improving access to education and healthcare, and contributing to reductions in maternal mortality.
Maiyaki emphasized that food security is central to peacebuilding, noting that hunger heightens vulnerability and can push individuals toward criminality or insurgent recruitment.
Upscaling Agricultural Proceeds
Meanwhile, in Nasarawa State, officials are advancing a complementary strategy focused on large-scale agricultural investment and agribusiness development.
The Director General of Strategic Communication to the State governor, Yakubu Lamai, highlighted the state’s position within Nigeria’s “food basket,” noting that most of its land is arable and suitable for diverse crop cultivation.
According to him, under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule, the state has pursued an investment-driven agricultural policy anchored on mechanized farming and strong private sector participation.
This approach has attracted major investors, including Dangote Group, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Olam Group, and Azman Group.
According to Lamai, Olam operates one of Africa’s largest rice plantations in the state, while Dangote’s sugar investments are projected to meet up to 30 percent of Nigeria’s sugar demand upon completion.
The state government has also made direct investments in agriculture, including the cultivation of 10,000 hectares of rice farmland in Jangwa, leading to the production of the widely distributed “Nasako Rice.”
Further reforms include the introduction of digital land administration systems to enhance transparency and efficiency, as well as the development of cluster farming initiatives and free trade zones.
“To further boost its profile, Nasarawa organizes the Nasarawa Investment Summit every two years,” Lamai added, noting that the event is designed to attract both domestic and international investors by promoting ease of doing business and agricultural opportunities.
In conclusion, the Kaduna and Nasarawa examples illustrate complementary pathways to tackling food insecurity in Nigeria—one centered on peacebuilding through community trust and coordinated security efforts, and the other on scaling agricultural productivity through investment and innovation.
Both approaches underscore the critical link between food availability, economic stability, and national security.