Chidimma Uchegbu -Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation on food security, nutrition, and sustainable livestock development, with strong backing from major international and regional stakeholders.
This formed the core of deliberations at a High-Level Meeting convened by the Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Mr. Antón Leis García, held on Tuesday, 24th February 2026, in Abuja.
Conveying the warm greetings of the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, commended the Spanish Government for its sustained support for sustainable food systems, climate adaptation initiatives, and social protection programmes across West Africa.
In the statement signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu stated that the Permanent Secretary noted that addressing feed and fodder scarcity, rehabilitating grazing reserves, strengthening surveillance and biosecurity systems, and promoting gender inclusion across livestock value chains are critical to achieving long-term food security and improved nutrition outcomes.
“Nigeria is committed to transforming its livestock ecosystem into one that is climate-resilient, market-oriented, and inclusive. Strengthening our bilateral cooperation with Spain, while leveraging the expertise of multilateral and humanitarian partners, will accelerate sustainable solutions that directly impact farmers, pastoralists, women, and vulnerable populations,” she stated.
In his remarks, Mr. García underscored the urgent need for knowledge sharing and regionally led solutions in the face of climate change, floods, droughts, and market shocks.
“There is a lot of knowledge in the region that we must ensure is shared,” he said. “We see both a challenge and an opportunity, to build resilient food systems that address immediate needs while creating long-term opportunities for West Africans.”
He reiterated Spain’s commitment to working closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and other regional partners to strengthen food systems, improve nutrition outcomes, and ensure inclusive responses that leave no one behind.
Under the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve initiative which has supported millions across member states through coordinated interventions, Nigeria hosts one of the largest storage capacities, reinforcing its strategic importance in regional food security operations.
The meeting brought together key development actors, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and leading civil society organisations.
Presenting the nutrition outlook, UNICEF’s representative noted that an estimated 35 million Nigerians across 27 states are projected to face food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, while approximately three million children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition.
They stressed that malnutrition remains one of the leading underlying causes of child mortality, with long-term consequences for cognitive development, productivity, and national growth.
Other participants echoed the need for coordinated, data-driven, and locally led interventions. They reiterated that strengthening regional food reserves, improving child and maternal nutrition outcomes, and building resilience against climate shocks require integrated action across governments, development institutions, and humanitarian partners.
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