NAQS warns of looming food shortages due to poor crop health
The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has warned of a potential food crisis if the country neglects plant health. Speaking in Abuja during the 2025 International Plant Health Day, NAQS Comptroller General, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, said plant health is critical to food security and economic stability. “Healthy plants are the foundation of our food systems. […]
The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has warned of a potential food crisis if the country neglects plant health.
Speaking in Abuja during the 2025 International Plant Health Day, NAQS Comptroller General, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, said plant health is critical to food security and economic stability.
“Healthy plants are the foundation of our food systems. With Nigeria’s population projected to hit 236 million by 2030 and 410 million by 2050, neglecting plant health could have devastating consequences,” he said.
He noted that pests, diseases, and climate change continue to threaten crop yields and food production.
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“Over the years, threats like invasive species, pests, and diseases have devastated crops, impacting food security and the economy.
“Climate change also aggravates plant health issues, altering ecosystems and creating favourable conditions for pests and diseases, while human actions, such as trade and travel, can unintentionally spread plant pests and diseases,” he said.
Dr. Isegbe highlighted the need to leverage digital technologies for plant health monitoring and quarantine management, aligning with the president’s agenda to enhance agriculture through digitisation and innovation.
As Nigeria’s national plant protection organisation, NAQS is tasked with preventing pest incursions and ensuring safe trade through strict import and export regulations.