‘Nigeria risks severe food shortages over poor crop health’
The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has warned that the country could face severe consequences if it ignores plant health. Dr. Vincent Isegbe, the Comptroller General of NAQS, stated this during a press conference to mark the 2025 International Plant Health Day in Abuja. He said plant health was crucial for “Our nation’s food security […]
The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has warned that the country could face severe consequences if it ignores plant health.
Dr. Vincent Isegbe, the Comptroller General of NAQS, stated this during a press conference to mark the 2025 International Plant Health Day in Abuja.
He said plant health was crucial for “Our nation’s food security and economic growth,” adding that “Healthy plants are the foundation of our food systems, providing sustenance for our growing population; plant health affects agricultural productivity, influencing our nation’s economy and trade.”
“Neglecting plant health could lead to severe food shortages, with Nigeria projected to reach 236 million people by 2030 and 410 million by 2050, making it the third most populous country in the world.
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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 said that this year’s International Plant Health Day presented another opportunity for us to educate ourselves and others about the importance of plant health while leveraging advanced digital technologies for efficient plant health monitoring, disease detection, and quarantine management.
“This technological drive stems from last year’s theme, ‘Plant health, safe trade and digital technology, ‘ which is closely tied to His Excellency, Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda 3 and 7, which aims to boost agriculture and achieve food security and to also accelerate diversification through digitisation and innovation. This call to action underscores the need to build resilient plant health systems that are capable of supporting economic growth,” the NAQS Comptroller General said.
As the national plant protection organisation for Nigeria, NAQS is charged with the responsibility of preventing the introduction, establishment, and spread of pests and diseases while facilitating trade.
NAQS is working to prevent pest and disease incursion while regulating imports and exports of agricultural materials entering and leaving the country in line with global best practices.