From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Markus O. Ogunbiyi, has warned that recurring pest and disease outbreaks are undermining Nigeria’s food security, threatening livelihoods, and posing potential risks to national stability.
Speaking in Abuja while declaring open a workshop on the review and validation of the National Integrated Pest and Plant Diseases Management Strategy for controlling transboundary and migratory agricultural pests, Ogunbiyi said the agricultural sector—despite being the backbone of the economy—faces escalating threats from emerging and re-emerging pests.
He cited recent invasions by Fall Armyworm, ginger blight, Tuta absoluta, quelea birds and other destructive species which, he said, have caused extensive crop losses, reduced productivity, and inflicted severe economic hardships, especially on smallholder farmers.
“These outbreaks go far beyond farms. They undermine food and nutrition security, threaten rural livelihoods, and in some cases, pose risks to national stability,” he said.
Ogunbiyi noted that many of these threats are transboundary and migratory, requiring a coordinated, science-driven and sustainable national response. He stressed that the workshop aims to strengthen the country’s readiness through improved prevention, early detection, rapid response, and long-term pest management strategies.
“Addressing these complex challenges demands a coordinated, science-based and sustainable approach, which is precisely the objective of the National Integrated Pest and Plant Diseases Management Strategy,” he said.
According to him, the strategy adopts the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which blends biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical control methods while safeguarding human health, beneficial organisms and the environment.
He added that climate-driven pest migration, resistant pathogens and changing farming systems require Nigeria’s strategies to remain dynamic and adaptive.
He urged participants—drawn from research institutions, pest management agencies and policy development bodies—to thoroughly review the national strategy, identify gaps and propose actionable solutions aligned with regional and global frameworks.
“This gathering brings together some of the finest minds in agricultural research and pest control. Your expertise is invaluable in ensuring that the strategy is robust, practical and implementable,” he said.
Ogunbiyi acknowledged development partners, particularly the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), for their continued technical support, and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening extension services, building farmers’ capacity, and supporting early warning and rapid response systems.
Earlier, the Director of Plant Health and Pest Control Services, Dr. Grace Iwendi, said transboundary pests—including locusts, quelea birds, armyworms and invasive plant diseases—continue to pose significant threats to food security and rural livelihoods.
She added that climate variability, increased movement of goods and people, and ecological changes have made these threats more frequent and severe.
She stressed the need for enhanced preparedness, strong surveillance systems, rapid response capability and a coordinated national management plan to reduce the risks posed by these outbreaks.