Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has called for the establishment of large-scale irrigation farms as a key solution to addressing the escalating food insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin region.
The governor made the call on Thursday during a panel discussion titled “Ensuring Food Security through Building Resilience of Food Systems in the Lake Chad Basin Region” at the ongoing 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri, which the Yobe State government hosted.
Other panel members included the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and the Country Director of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Nigeria, Koffy Dominique Kouacou. David Stevenson moderated the session.
Governor Zulum emphasised that the Lake Chad Basin region has vast arable land that, if properly harnessed, can significantly contribute to the region’s food security. He underscored the importance of collaboration between regional governors, critical partners, and the United Nations to establish irrigation farms that agricultural experts can efficiently manage.
“We need to invest in irrigation. Irrigated agriculture is the only solution. Unfortunately, our investment in irrigated agriculture is very low.
We have vast fertile land. Borno State alone has a total land mass of 72,000 sqm; out of this, over 70% is arable land,” Zulum stated.
With the region’s growing population, the governor noted that reliance on rainfed and subsistence farming practices is no longer sustainable.
He stressed the urgent need for research into climate-resilient crops and farming techniques to ensure food affordability and sufficiency.
“There is increasing population growth while our food production is decreasing because of over-dependence on rainfall. We need to see through this forum how the region will establish larger irrigation farms that can be operated either by surface irrigation or drip irrigation systems that will ensure sufficient utilisation of the limited water resources,” he added.
Governor Zulum further highlighted the importance of livestock development, pointing out that the Lake Chad Basin is the leading livestock producer in the sub-region. He suggested that irrigation schemes could support the growth of animal pastures, thus boosting beef and milk production.
“We have a low-hanging fruit in irrigation. The shores of Lake Chad provide ample water resources; even where surface water is scarce, we can easily drill tube wells. What we need now is the political will from governors, regional partners, the federal government, and the national governments of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic to drive this process,” Governor Zulum concluded.
Speaking during the session, the FAO Country Representative in Nigeria, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, said the number of people facing food insecurity in West Africa has risen to 50 million.
He said the figure indicated a sharp increase of 35 million in just five years, adding that the envoy is, therefore, calling for an urgent intervention to prevent further deterioration of the region’s food crisis.
He said that in 2020, 15 million people were affected by food insecurity across West Africa. Today, that number has surged to 50 million despite all efforts in agriculture, livestock, and food distribution.
However, he attributed the crisis to three significant factors: conflict, climate change, and economic shocks, which severely disrupted food production and supply chains across the region.
He continued, “Last year alone, 15 countries in West and Central Africa experienced devastating floods, affecting nearly seven million people.
In Nigeria, floods destroyed 850,000 metric tons of food—enough to feed eight million people for six months.”
The FAO Country Representative stressed the urgency of shifting from short-term humanitarian aid to sustainable, long-term solutions, including large-scale investment in agriculture, climate-resilient seeds, and improved irrigation systems.
He commended the collaboration between FAO, the Nigerian government, and state authorities, adding that the Governor of Borno, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has indicated commitment to addressing food security challenges.
“With only five years remaining to meet the global target of zero hunger by 2030,” the envoy said.
He also called on the donor agencies, governments, and private sector stakeholders to take immediate action.
“The pace at which food insecurity is growing demands urgent investment and coordinated efforts to reverse this trend before more lives are lost to hunger and malnutrition.
“The FAO’s latest figures underscore the severity of the crisis and the need for a comprehensive response to secure food access for millions across the region,” he said.
Also speaking, David Stevenson, the Country Representative for WFP, highlighted the severity of the crisis in the region, saying that the area was grappling with numerous challenges, including climate change, conflict, and displacement, which have exacerbated food shortages.
“’Currently, over 7 million people in the Lake Chad Basin are food insecure, which continues to rise as the crisis deepens. In addition, we are witnessing the displacement of over 3 million people across the region, with acute shortages of medical services and essential supplies,” Stevenson said.
The WFP representative further explained that crop agriculture, mainly cultivating high-value crops like cowpeas, moringa, and hibiscus, holds immense potential for transforming the region’s economy and addressing food insecurity.
He stressed the need for innovative solutions to modernise traditional agricultural systems alongside efforts to restore ecosystems and mitigate climate change.
“The region has a rich history of cross-border trade and agricultural productivity, but the challenges of today require a shift towards scientific and sustainable farming practices.
“With the right investment and political commitment, we can unlock billions of dollars in economic potential,” Stevenson added.
He also stressed the importance of cooperation between countries in the Basin, pointing out that regional partnerships involving the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) would be critical in achieving long-term solutions.
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