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,” Bassey stated. “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.
“All these and more are encompassed in agroecology,” Bassey added. “It respects the rights of Mother Earth as well as those of food producers. It is diverse, inclusive, and capable of repairing our broken ecosystems.” 
His remarks echoed the broader sentiment at the conference, where environmentalists, academics, farmers, and civil society groups united in urging the Federal Government to develop a national agroecology policy as a lasting solution to the country’s deepening food and environmental crises.
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 alarms 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.
In a positive policy development, the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that agroecology has been included in Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0 under the Paris Agreement. According to the Director of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, efforts are underway to integrate agroecology across other key policies within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
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: the 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.
The resounding message from the event was clear—Nigeria’s path to sustainable food security and national independence begins with ecological, farmer-led solutions.
LV