Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has highlighted the serious threat that climate change poses to Nigeria’s food systems. Speaking at the Commonwealth roundtable on climate finance and food security in London, he explained that rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns are severely impacting agricultural productivity and food supply chains in the country. He pointed out that desertification is affecting the northern states, with Nigeria losing around 351,000 hectares of land annually. Floods are also devastating farmland, while the country’s inland water bodies are at risk of pollution, threatening fish stocks and the livelihoods of millions of artisanal fishers.
Nnaji also mentioned the alarming shrinkage of Lake Chad by over 90% since the 1960s, which is significantly reducing water availability for irrigation and livestock in Nigeria’s northeast. He also discussed the vulnerability of Nigerian farmers, as 95% rely on unpredictable rainfall, making them highly susceptible to droughts and erratic weather patterns. Despite Nigeria’s potential to be a net exporter of agricultural products, the country spends over $10 billion annually on food imports. Additionally, more than 70% of Nigerians depend on agriculture for their livelihood, yet rural communities face challenges like limited access to electricity and poor post-harvest infrastructure.
To address these challenges, Nnaji emphasized the importance of leveraging science, technology, and innovation to bolster Nigeria’s climate resilience strategy. He noted that the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (2022) is guiding the country’s efforts to secure food production, energy access, and environmental sustainability. Key initiatives include the promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture (e.g., drought-resistant Tela Maize and climate-adaptive cotton), digital agriculture, AI-driven precision farming, and clean cooking technologies.
Furthermore, Nnaji stressed the need for sustainable financing mechanisms to scale up these solutions, such as through Green Bonds, Climate Resilience Funds, and Public-Private Partnerships. He also advocated for the creation of a Commonwealth Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture to facilitate knowledge exchange and technology transfer to enhance food security initiatives. Additionally, he called for more accessible climate finance mechanisms to support large-scale adaptation projects in developing nations.
