AgroEknor CEO Timi Oke has sounded the alarm on Nigeria’s escalating food insecurity crisis, calling for immediate investment and comprehensive reforms. Speaking at the GTR West Africa 2025 conference, Oke warned that the nation’s agricultural sector is on the brink of collapse due to factors such as inflation, climate instability, and limited financing options for farmers.
“The future of Nigeria’s economy and national security is tied to our ability to feed ourselves,” Oke said. “If we do not act with urgency and scale, the food security gap will only widen, leaving millions vulnerable and stalling our development ambitions.”
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Oke emphasised that short-term fixes are insufficient and urged stakeholders to prioritise long-term, resilient agricultural ecosystems that foster innovation and inclusivity, backed by sustainable finance. “We cannot afford to think of agriculture as charity,” he said. Agriculture is business, but it must be the kind of business that uplifts people, protects the environment, and strengthens communities”.
To address the crisis, Oke proposed a three-part plan centred on urgent policy reform, widespread technology adoption, and deep collaboration between the public and private sectors. He called on the federal government to eliminate regulatory bottlenecks and increase access to land and infrastructure for farmers.
“The solutions must be integrated,” Oke stressed. “Policy without investment will not deliver results. Innovation without infrastructure will fail. We must work together across sectors and silos.”
Oke warned of the high cost of inaction, linking food insecurity to national threats such as poverty, malnutrition, and social unrest. “If we do not invest now, we will spend even more later managing the consequences of hunger, instability, and lost economic potential,” he cautioned. “The time to act is not tomorrow. It is today.”
In conclusion, Oke issued a direct challenge to stakeholders to take responsibility for shaping Nigeria’s food future. “We have the knowledge, the talent, and the opportunity,” he said. “What we need now is leadership, vision, and commitment. If we act with courage and collaboration, we can transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and build a future where food security is not a privilege for a few but a right for all.
