The Economic Community of West African States has raised an alarm over the rising food crisis in West Africa and the Sahel, warning that millions might face acute famine if prompt and concerted efforts are not done.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasised the importance of food reserves in tackling food insecurity in the region during his remarks at the third meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve Management Committee in Abuja on Tuesday.
Kyari, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Marcus Ogunbiyi, acknowledged the strides made by ECOWAS leaders since the establishment of the Regional Food Reserve Initiative in 2013, describing it as a vital safety net for food security.
“This meeting is taking place at a particularly worrying moment for our region,” he stated.
The Minister attributed the worsening food crisis to conflicts, economic instability, and climate change, citing the December 2024 Cadre Harmonisé report, which revealed that nearly 34.7 million people are in urgent need of food and nutritional assistance.
Kyari underlined the significance of enhancing policies, increasing sovereign finance, and improving the management of food reserves to stabilize food prices and cushion market shocks.
“The food security situation has worsened due to conflicts, economic instability, and the devastating impact of climate change.
“This calls for a concerted effort to boost food production, enhance strategic food storage, and stabilize market prices while strengthening the administration and management of the regional food reserve,” he said.
Kyari highlighted the progress made since the establishment of the food security reserve, which included capacity-building programs, early warning systems, and emergency food aid measures.
Currently, the regional food reserve contains about 74,000 tonnes of food, distributed across multiple locations for rapid emergency deployment.
However, Kyari emphasised the importance of enhanced administration, operational efficiency, and stronger monitoring methods to safeguard the reserve’s ability to respond to food crises.
“It is crucial to ensure that the instruments and governance of the regional food security reserve are aligned with the challenges we face and our ambitions for the region.
“As such, we must strengthen the decision-making process and enhance monitoring of the reserve’s operations and interventions,” he added.
He encouraged committee members and stakeholders to engage actively in talks about operational plans and emergency response strategies, conveying hope that the meeting would produce solutions to strengthen the region’s food security system.
Kyari reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to backing regional food security efforts.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Massandjé Toure-Litse, also delivered a sobering warning, claiming that food insecurity in the area could drastically deteriorate if nothing is done right away.
“If appropriate measures are not taken, this figure could reach 47 million by the lean season from June to August 2025,” she said.
Geopolitical changes, conflicts, economic instability, and climate change are the main causes of the issue, according to Toure-Litse, who was represented by Mohamed Zongo, the Acting Executive Director of the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food.
She laid the groundwork for long-term resilience and urged a more robust regional response.
“It is imperative that our region enhances its immediate response mechanisms while consolidating the foundations of sustainable resilience,” she emphasized.
Toure-Litse acknowledged that the Management Committee had not met regularly in recent years but noted that the Bureau formed at the December 2019 meeting had held three sessions since March 2023.
The current meeting, she explained, aims to review the Reserve’s performance over the past year and develop a strategic plan for 2025 to support the most affected communities facing food, nutrition, and pastoral crises.
“Our discussions and decisions must ensure transparency, efficiency, and fairness in managing the Reserve while adapting it to present and future challenges,” she added.
She also praised the ongoing assistance from national and regional organizations, along with international partners, such as: The French Development Agency, The World Bank, The European Union, The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation.
