Stakeholders Seek Community Driven Transformation Of Nig’s Food System

Stakeholders have reiterated that true food sovereignty lies in empowering communities not corporations to decide how their food is grown, processed, and distributed.

Speaking at a high level stakeholders conference on agroecology in Abuja, they called for a complete transformation of Nigeria’s food system toward one that is community driven, environmentally respectful, and rooted in ecological principles.

In his presentation, the convener and Executive Director Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Dr. Nimmo Bassey argued that food must be seen not as a mere commodity but as medicine, a symbol of dignity, and a unifying force for people whose livelihoods depend on it.

“We have often said that real solutions to any problem are those that address the root causes. Deploying GMOs or synthetic inputs does not address the core of food insecurity or climate change. In fact, it compounds the problem by fostering dependence on corporate seed monopolies and damaging ecosystems.”

He described agroecology as the core solution to the interlinked crises of food insecurity, environmental degradation, and climate change. Unlike industrial agriculture, he said, agroecology builds ecological balance, promotes biodiversity, ensures farmer empowerment, and guarantees food sovereignty.

Environmental health advocate Dr. Ifeanyi Casmir emphasized that agroecology aligns with multiple global development goals but remains overlooked in Nigeria’s current policies.

He called on the Ministry of Agriculture to draft a comprehensive agroecology bill and for lawmakers to ensure its passage through the National Assembly.

Also speaking, Professor Ado Garba raised alarm over Nigeria’s growing reliance on genetically modified organisms, GMOs and toxic chemical inputs.

He warned that such practices undermine food sovereignty, pose significant health risks, and threaten long-term environmental stability.

Professor Adeoluwa Olugbenga further stressed the need to shift agroecology from the margins to the center of national agricultural planning, describing it as a proven path toward solving food insecurity and climate threats.

The Conference also encouraged Nigerian citizens to embrace subsistence farming, support indigenous food systems, and advocate for food policies that empower local communities.

Participants issued a collective call to action, that government at all levels must ban GMOs, scale up investment in agroecology research and practices, and ensure that smallholder farmers are at the heart of national food strategies.

Aisha Adesanya, Edited By Grace Namiji