Laraba MUREY
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, has called for deeper collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to strengthen the country’s food systems and drive agricultural innovations.
Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. He noted that food security remains the bedrock of national security and praised the military for its role in protecting farmers and supporting agricultural initiatives nationwide.
“A nation that cannot feed itself cannot fully secure itself. Our farmers, who are the backbone of food production, continue to face enormous challenges, especially threats to their safety. However, your presence and activities have brought relief to farmers and institutions working with them. For this, we say thank you for your service to the nation,” Dr. Dabban said.
The ARCN boss outlined possible areas of collaboration, including joint research on plant and animal diseases, the use of unmanned systems and satellite imagery for precision farming, development of local agricultural machinery, and training programmes such as veteran farming initiatives.
He stressed that such partnerships would enhance farmer confidence, increase food output, and reinforce national stability.
Responding on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Chairman of Defence Farms, Major General I.M. Abdullahi, assured the delegation of the military’s commitment to food security.
He highlighted the Armed Forces’ long-standing involvement in agriculture, citing ranches established by the Nigerian Army since 2017 and the Defence Food and Livestock Project launched in 2024.
General Abdullahi added that the military had cultivated over 1,000 hectares of farmland in partnership with the Ministry of Water Resources and is open to working closely with ARCN’s research institutions. He also pointed to ongoing peace initiatives to resolve farmer-herder conflicts, noting a peace template piloted in Gurara to promote coexistence between herders and host communities.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria take food security seriously. Beyond providing security for farmers, we are investing in agricultural projects to sustain the national grain reserve. We will continue to partner with ARCN to ensure the adoption of improved varieties and technologies that will benefit the Nigerian people,” he assured.
The visit, according to both parties, marks a renewed commitment to combining science, research, and military capacity to boost food security and resilience in Nigeria.
