Food Security Under Threat! Army Boss Pushes Ranching As Only Solution

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for the urgent adoption of ranching as a national policy to tackle the worsening food insecurity across the country. According to NIVONEWS, the Army Chief, represented by Major General Olufemi Dare, Executive Director of Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited, made this known during the National Summit on Food, Nutrition, and Food Security organized by the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He emphasized that open grazing was no longer sustainable and urged the National Assembly to legislate against it while providing viable ranching alternatives for herders. “The food insecurity issue is multifaceted. Even if all security agencies are deployed to protect farmlands, it still won’t be enough,” he said. “We must embrace ranching, adopt technology, and get every state and local government actively involved. Security operatives should be allowed to focus on their core constitutional responsibilities.”

According to NIVONEWS, the Army has already set up multiple formations aimed at curbing farmer-herder conflicts and promoting agricultural stability.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Yusuf Sani Idris stated that the Navy had also made significant contributions through Admiralty Farms Limited, which operates in almost all six geopolitical zones. These farms, he explained, serve both food production and security functions, with expansion plans in view.

Also in attendance was Assistant Commandant General Besong Michaels Ogar, who represented the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). He stressed the importance of timely information sharing in combating threats to farming communities and highlighted ongoing tensions over encroached cattle routes in the Middle Belt, Northeast, and Northwest.

Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, reassured stakeholders of the committee’s resolve to build a safer, food-secure nation. He noted that lasting peace and cooperation between farmers and security forces are essential to addressing Nigeria’s nutrition and agricultural challenges.

According to NIVONEWS, the summit concluded with renewed calls for policy action and inter-agency collaboration to end open grazing, strengthen food systems, and protect rural livelihoods.

”NIVONEWS REPORTS”