Nigerian academics warn of food scarcity and security challenges

Academic experts in Nigeria are warning of rising food insecurity and the need for diverse security strategies to combat banditry and insurgency.

Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, stated that the activities of herdsmen and bandits are creating a risk of food scarcity. He noted that farmers, particularly cassava growers, are losing produce to cattle and are often forced to harvest crops prematurely to prevent destruction. Salako emphasized the need for the government to invest in soil surveys and comprehensive programs to harness the country's fertile land.

Separately, Aderemi Alarape, a professor of Psychology at the University of Ibadan, argued that the federal government must move beyond purely military, or kinetic, approaches to address insurgency and communal strife. He proposed a “Psychology for National Transformation Agenda,” suggesting that the government integrate behavioral and psychological insights into public policy to address the root causes of radicalization, poverty, and social conflict.