Azubuike Nwenewo

Food security is a mandatory requirement if humanity must sustain its existence on earth. Its absence is a serious threats to life. Food and Agricultural Organization stated that food security exist when all people, at all times have unhindered access to sufficient safe and nutritious foods that meet their daily dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Central to this paraphrased definition of food security are food availability and access, food utilization and stability. These components must consistently interact to sustain and guarantee food security in any society. Besides climate change, Nigeria with a population of above two hundred million people has been facing challenges in food security over a decade. These challenges pose threat to growing a physical and mentally healthy people. Note, food is central to overall growth and development of human.  It is reported, in Q1, 2024 that about one hundred million people are food-insecure in Nigeria. It is also estimated, that about 16% of Nigerians will face severe food insecurity by June 2024. The identified key threats to food security in Nigeria include increasing insecurity in the northern parts which serve as food hub, continued conflict between farmers and herders, climate change, inflation and rising food costs occasion by unstable forex market. This menace is no doubt impacting on all four important aspects of food security highlighted above. It is noteworthy, to submit that, the most significant factor which has negative impact on Nigeria’s food security lately have become banditry, kidnapping, terrorism which are mostly pronounced in the entire northern region. Farm crops are destroyed by herds intentionally unleashed by herders; fires (arson) intentionally set by bandits. Farmers are kidnapped for ransom, taxed and levied by occupier bandits, chased out of the towns/farms for outright take-over by invading terrorists groups. Crops are also seized by these criminal groups. Given above-described scenario, it is arguable to conclude that the main source of threat to food security in Nigeria is insecurity. What is the way forward? To attain standard food security in any society oftentimes requires multi-dimensional approach that must include safety and security of the farm and the farmers. This piece shall make recommendations specific to security. These include; Rejig current security approach: national security has not fared well in recent time. Since resurgence of boko-haram terrorist group, other terror and bandit groups have emerged. Their continued existence, successful attacks, coercive dominance and expansion have proved one thing – whatever Nigeria is currently doing to curb, curtail, minimize and/or prevent the monster of insecurity is not working well. Most disturbing is the proliferation of lite arms and ammunitions which are the major tools/enabler of insecurity. Governments, especially at the centre must prioritize national security, and specifically human security.  Whatever it takes to protect lives and properties of the citizenry should take centre stage. Using the same security approach and system of 19th century to tackle security challenges of 20th century is not the way to go. Security is evolving, so should its management. Establish designated forest ranger: it is high time Nigeria considered establishing well functional forest rangers – a law enforcement agency solely dedicated to protecting the ungoverned space. If advanced economies of the West should have forest rangers, one wonders why a developing state confronting multi-faceted security threats should not go the way. Creating a unit within existing agency to tackle forest security threats is a good starting point, however having a separate agency charged with sole responsibility of guarding the forests in collaboration with others will most likely produce better outcome. Establish ministry of rural security: contemporary criminality has gone rural. The criminals have studied and understood that the rural society is not receiving fair security attention. The rural communities have very insignificance presence of gate-keepers. The hub of farming in Nigeria is in rural areas. To drive its adequate security will require a dedicated ministry of rural security to coordinate how this countryside should be protected. Have stringent punitive measures for agro-based criminality: while it is said that poverty defiles consequences – meaning that a hungry man is an angry man who can dare anything regardless of consequences. We cannot rule out the effect of punitive approach in conditioning or controlling human behaviors.  Punishment for crimes against food security must be proportionate with the intent of such criminals. A criminal who intentionally destroys farm crops, kidnap and kill farmers has intent to starve the nation to death; as such is a serious threat to national security and must be treated with equal or more stiff sanction. To a significant extend, punitive measures deter criminality. ALSO READ: Climate Change In Nigeria And Its Remarkable Impact In Agriculture