The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has cautioned opposition voices against twisting the October 2026 Cadre Harmonisé food security assessment into a political campaign message, describing such attempts as deeply unfortunate and a disservice to the nation.
In a press release issued on Monday, the Minister acknowledged that food and nutrition insecurity remains a serious national challenge, stressing that as the Minister responsible for Agriculture and Food Security, he would not shy away from that reality.
He, however, insisted that honesty about what the data actually says must not be sacrificed on the altar of political convenience.
“Cadre Harmonisé did not originate from me, nor from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. It is an assessment tool designed by the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and its regional and technical partners, with support from organisations including FAO, WFP, FEWS NET, UNICEF and IPC, to identify food and nutrition security risks and help governments and development partners respond early. It is not an election forecast”, Senator Kyari explained.
The Minister took particular exception to the claim that the assessment projects that 33.5 million Nigerians will face food insecurity because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is re-elected in 2027.
“That interpretation was added for political purpose. It is disheartening to see food insecurity being used as a political tool. Exploiting the struggles of Nigerians is not patriotism, but a great disservice to our nation”, he said.
Clarifying the figures, Senator Kyari noted that the projected 33.5 million relates to the June to August 2027 period and must be understood within the seasonal nature of food insecurity. He pointed out that the assessment actually shows a decline in the projected population expected to face severe food and nutrition insecurity, from 34.8 million in the corresponding 2026 projection to 33.5 million in 2027.
He also observed that the framework does not conduct retrospective analysis after the projected period to determine whether the figures were right or wrong.
The Minister further noted that the assessment itself identifies several drivers of food and nutrition insecurity, most of which are influenced by global events and environmental changes, with climate change being the biggest culprit.
Inconsistent rainfall and prolonged dry spells, he said, have made it difficult for farmers to rely on rain-fed agriculture, while the Super El Niño phenomenon has disrupted weather patterns in many regions, affecting planting seasons and crop production.
“What the assessment does not say is that these challenges are a consequence of the continuation of any particular political administration,” he stated. “What it gives us is an early warning. Our responsibility is to respond to that warning.”
And respond the government is doing, according to the Minister, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He outlined a raft of interventions, including expanding access to fertiliser and other agricultural inputs, increasing mechanisation, expanding irrigation and dry-season farming, strengthening agricultural financing, improving access to farmland, investing in storage and processing, developing value chains, and promoting climate-resilient agriculture.
Senator Kyari also highlighted the role of improved security in several farming communities, which has allowed farmers previously unable to access their farmlands to return to their farms and resume production.
“This is critical because food security cannot be achieved without farmers being able to safely cultivate their land,” he said, citing areas such as Marte and Guzamala in Borno State, which were previously inaccessible to data collectors but have now experienced improved stability, allowing the Cadre Harmonisé exercise to be conducted there.
He further noted significant progress in fertiliser distribution and local blending, support for smallholder farmers across the country, major mechanisation partnerships, expanded dry-season production, and strengthened agricultural financing through the Bank of Agriculture.
While conceding that these interventions will not solve every problem overnight, the Minister emphasised that food insecurity is a longstanding and structural challenge that has developed over many years and predates the current administration.
“But the important thing is that we are confronting it directly, investing in production and building the systems needed to make our food supply more resilient,” he said, adding that agriculture has recorded significant progress since President Tinubu assumed office.
“As Minister, I accept the responsibility that comes with this challenge. When the data identifies a risk, our duty is to act on it, not to hide from it,” Senator Kyari declared.
He therefore urged political actors to exercise responsibility when discussing food security data, reminding them that millions of Nigerians are affected by these challenges and that their food, livelihoods and wellbeing should never be reduced to political talking points.
“We welcome scrutiny. We welcome constructive criticism. But there is a clear difference between legitimate political debate and deliberately misrepresenting a technical assessment for electoral propaganda,” he said.
The Minister concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to using the information provided by the Cadre Harmonisé to strengthen interventions, support farmers, protect livelihoods and improve access to safe, nutritious and affordable food.
“That is our responsibility, and that is the work we remain committed to,” he said.
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