Strengthening Africa’s Food Systems: A New Era Of Liberia–Jigawa Cooperation

By Malam Umar Namadi

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

I bring to the Vice President and all the people of the Republic of Liberia the warm greetings of the Government and people of Jigawa State, Nigeria. I am indeed profoundly delighted by the official invitation from the Office of the Vice President, Honorable Jeremiah Kpan Koung, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral subnational relations between Liberia and Jigawa State, foster strategic partnerships in areas of mutual interest, and promote experience-sharing in several areas, including agriculture, education, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and investment promotion.

On behalf of my team, I am also very delighted and sincerely appreciate the warm reception and hospitality extended to our delegation since our arrival in Monrovia for this very important mission.

As we witness the launch of the Global Hunger Index here in Monrovia, I am confident of a productive technical cooperation emerging between Jigawa State and Liberia, crucial to advancing our quest for sustainable food security. We envisage that one key outcome of this visit will be the signing of a bilateral agreement in furtherance of deeper West African economic cooperation.

While the Vice President’s invitation was intended to foster an exchange of experiences across diverse sectors, including agriculture, education, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and investment promotion, my primary focus today is to share Jigawa State’s practical insights on “Addressing Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

I recall that the senior Liberian delegation, comprising officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Liberia Rice Federation, and other agricultural organisations, visited Jigawa State in August last year. I believe they observed a variety of scalable, market-driven approaches targeting food security, with particular attention to the rice value chain. These included advancements in mechanisation, value addition, farmer aggregation, and improved access to agribusiness finance.

Food security is largely about ensuring availability, affordability, and access to safe and nutritious food. It is essential for economic stability, social cohesion, and national security, demanding practical solutions and commitment from all sectors.

Sub-Saharan Africa faces serious food security challenges, relying heavily on imports—over 40% of rice consumed is sourced externally, costing nearly $65 billion each year. Despite vast arable land and a young workforce, average rice yields remain low at just 1 to 2 tons per hectare, far below the global standard of 6 tons.

The problem is systemic: food insecurity results from poorly organized agricultural systems, including low productivity, fragmented land holdings by smallholder farmers, and climate vulnerability.

Addressing these issues is crucial to reducing import dependence, especially as the population is projected to reach 1.7 billion.

In Nigeria, food security remains a pressing concern. As a result, the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, makes it a major priority to ensure that domestic food production significantly exceeds population growth. Accordingly, a range of initiatives aimed at stabilizing food prices, increasing agricultural productivity, and ensuring food availability and affordability have been introduced, including:

Declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security

Establishment of the National Community Food Bank Programme

Renewed efforts toward agricultural mechanisation

Establishment of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit

To complement Federal Government efforts in Jigawa State, we have strived to bridge the gap between theory and practice, navigating within the constraints of limited resources.

Since my inauguration as Governor in May 2023, our administration has steadily pursued a comprehensive 12-point development agenda designed to ensure progress and lasting prosperity for the people of Jigawa State.

Topmost on this agenda is the Agricultural Transformation Initiative, which prioritises achieving food security while contributing significantly to economic diversification.

We began by developing a comprehensive agricultural policy through an all-inclusive process involving major stakeholders across the entire value chain. Today, we are steadily implementing all aspects of this policy, achieving notable milestones.

A key area of progress is the expansion of cultivated farmlands and increased youth participation in agriculture. By ensuring timely access to critical inputs and quality extension services, we are shifting from subsistence farming to modern, commercially oriented, and climate-resilient systems.

Some of the specific initiatives include:

1. Establishment of the Jigawa Farm Mechanisation Company
2. Creation of a Ministry for Livestock Development

iii. Establishment of the Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency

1. Investment in digital infrastructure and extension systems
2. Strategic partnerships with organisations such as Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and international agribusiness firms

These efforts have resulted in higher yields, improved food security, and increased economic diversification.

Jigawa State is now among the top producers of rice, wheat, sesame, and hibiscus in Nigeria, and a leading hub for date production.

In summary, our strategy treats agriculture as a complete value chain—moving from subsistence to integrated production, processing, and market linkages.

Mr. Vice President, beyond agriculture, we have also made progress in infrastructure, youth empowerment, and education.

Finally, we hope this visit marks the beginning of a strong and enduring collaboration between Jigawa State and Liberia.

Thank you. God bless Liberia. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. God bless Jigawa State.

Wassalamu Alaikum.

A speech delivered by the Jigawa State Governor Malam Umar Namadi during a recent visit to Liberia to discuss a strategic rice partnership