Dr. Johnson Dudu warns that escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s North-East endangers female farmers and threatens national food security. Increasing violence forces women to seek armed escorts to access farms. Urgent government intervention and a collaborative approach are needed to stabilise the region, enhance agricultural practices, and empower women, crucial for national survival.
ABUJA, Nigeria — In a stark warning that echoes across Nigeria’s Sahel region, Dr Johnson Dudu, Director of Research at the Centre for Population and Environmental Development, has sounded the alarm: escalating insecurity in the North-East is not only putting the lives of female farmers at risk but is also imperilling the nation’s food sufficiency.
Speaking at a one-day empowerment programme for women in pastoralism and agriculture, Dr Dudu revealed that many female farmers now have no option but to seek armed escorts to reach their farms—a stark indicator of the deteriorating security landscape in the region.
Rising Insecurity and the Plight of Women Farmers
For decades, Nigeria’s northern agricultural heartland has been the backbone of the country’s food production. Yet the region is increasingly beset by relentless insecurity, driven by a volatile mix of banditry, farmer–herder clashes, and insurgent activities predominantly attributed to Boko Haram.
The impact of these security challenges has now reached a critical juncture. As Dr Dudu noted:
“Women need security, especially when accessing their farms. Many women cannot go to their farms without security, putting food production at risk.”
The need for escorts—a measure once unthinkable—underscores the perilous conditions faced by rural women.
Their daily struggle to harvest crops amidst a backdrop of violent raids not only threatens their lives but also jeopardises the livelihoods of millions and the overall food security of the nation.
This disturbing trend, if left unchecked, could trigger a cascading effect on Nigeria’s economy, already strained by rising food prices and inflation.
Empowerment Programme: A Beacon Amidst the Crisis
The empowerment programme, which brought together female farmers, pastoralists, and key stakeholders, was organised with support from Cowater International, the International Development Research Centre, and the Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises (SPARC) programme—an initiative funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
This high-profile workshop aimed to empower women through capacity-building and to foster resilience in agricultural communities grappling with recurrent crises.
During the event, experts highlighted not only the immediate dangers posed by insecurity but also the long-term repercussions for food production.
The repeated attacks have forced a significant number of female farmers into a state of perpetual vulnerability, limiting their access to both markets and critical agricultural inputs.
In a region where women are pivotal to sustaining household food supplies, such a scenario could have dire consequences for national food security.
The Domino Effect on Food Security
The link between insecurity and food scarcity is becoming increasingly undeniable. Recent studies and field surveys have repeatedly shown that when farmers are intimidated or forced to abandon their fields, overall crop yields plummet.
With Nigerian markets already reeling from inflation and the recent removal of fuel subsidies—which has further escalated transportation and input costs—the disruption to agricultural production compounds an already severe food crisis.
As food prices soar, the risk of widespread malnutrition among vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, grows ever more acute.
Moreover, the indirect effects of insecurity ripple through rural economies. Displacement, loss of income, and psychological trauma mean that affected communities often find themselves caught in a vicious cycle of poverty and dependency on inadequate humanitarian aid.
In northern Nigeria, where an estimated tens of millions are already struggling to secure enough food, the implications are nothing short of catastrophic.
A Call for Urgent Policy Intervention
Dr Dudu’s impassioned call for a “robust security network” is a plea for immediate government intervention.
He stressed that the implementation of targeted security measures in states like Gombe, Bauchi, and throughout the entire North-East is critical to stabilising the region and safeguarding food production.
There is now an urgent need for a collaborative approach involving local authorities, community leaders, non-governmental organisations, and international development partners.
Critics argue that successive governments have failed to invest adequately in security infrastructure or to address the root causes of these crises—namely, socio-economic disenfranchisement and the persistent neglect of rural communities.
Without a comprehensive strategy that integrates security, economic empowerment, and agricultural support, the cycle of violence and food insecurity is likely to continue unabated.
The Broader Implications for Nigeria
The current crisis is emblematic of a broader national challenge. Nigeria’s food system is under immense strain due to a confluence of factors: insecurity, climate change, rising production costs, and policy missteps.
The situation in the North-East is a microcosm of these challenges, illustrating how a failure to protect vulnerable agricultural communities can have far-reaching impacts on national stability and prosperity.
For Nigeria to secure its food future, policymakers must take decisive steps to not only quell the insecurity that plagues the North-East but also to invest in sustainable agricultural practices and empower the very women who are the backbone of rural food production.
Ensuring that female farmers can access their lands safely is not merely a matter of personal security—it is a strategic imperative for national food security and economic stability.
Conclusion
As Nigeria stands at a crossroads, the urgent need to safeguard its agricultural lifeline has never been clearer. The stark reality presented by Dr Johnson Dudu—where female farmers must now travel with armed escorts to tend their crops—serves as a wake-up call.
Without immediate and decisive action to restore security and empower rural communities, the threat to Nigeria’s food security will only intensify, leaving millions at the mercy of violence and economic instability.
In these troubled times, the government, along with international partners and local communities, must come together to forge a path towards peace, stability, and sustainable food production. The future of Nigeria’s food system, and indeed the well-being of millions, depends on it.
- Additional report from Suleiman Adamu, Atlantic Post Senior National Security Correspondent
