ARCN Seeks Military Partnership to Tackle Food Insecurity
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Dr Abubakar Adamu Dabban, has urged the Armed Forces of Nigeria to partner with the Council in securing food systems and strengthening agricultural innovation.
Dabban made the call during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He said food security remained the foundation of national security and praised the military for its support in protecting farmers across the country.
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“A nation that cannot feed itself cannot fully secure itself. Our farmers face enormous challenges, especially threats to their safety. Your presence has brought them relief, and we thank you for your service to the nation,” Dabban said.
He listed possible areas of collaboration to include research on plant and animal diseases, use of satellite imagery and drones for precision farming, engineering support for local agricultural machinery, and human capital development through training and veteran farming programmes.
Responding, the Chairman of Defence Farms, Major General I.M. Abdullahi, who represented the Chief of Defence Staff, assured the ARCN delegation of the military’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
He said the Armed Forces had long been involved in agriculture, citing army ranches established in 2017 and the Defence Food and Livestock Project launched in 2024.
Abdullahi added that the military was cultivating over 1,000 hectares of farmland with the Ministry of Water Resources and also working to resolve farmer-herder clashes through peace initiatives in Gurara.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria take food security seriously. Beyond providing security, we are investing in projects to sustain the national grain reserve. We will continue to partner with ARCN to ensure the adoption of improved varieties and technologies,” he said.
The visit, both parties said, signals a renewed commitment to tackling food insecurity through science, research, and military support.
