The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has begun talks with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), to ensure increased investment in the agriculture sector and food production. The government hopes that these moves will help the country to guarantee food security.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, disclosed this when the newly appointed Country Representative of the FAO to Nigeria, Dr. Gudain Hussein, and his delegation paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan Director, Information and Public Relations in a statement said, Professor Utsev used the opportunity of the visit to reiterate the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to boosting food security through strategic partnerships with development agencies.
The Minister emphasized President Tinubu’s strong commitment to enhancing food production in the country, recalling that these efforts inspired the declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security and the administration’s sustained drive to attract investment in various aspects of agriculture and the food value chain.
According to the statement, the Minister assured the delegation of the Ministry’s readiness, through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, to collaborate fully with FAO in advancing food production in Nigeria in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
Professor Utsev said that the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative and the proposed Investment Summit coming up in Abuja will serve as a veritable platform to unite investors and stakeholders to accelerate food security efforts nationwide.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, advised FAO to work closely with the Ministry to ensure the achievement of the Food Security Mandate of President Tinubu’s administration for the benefit of Nigerians.
Earlier, Dr. Hussein informed the Minister of the upcoming FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative for the Sahel, themed “Investment in Irrigation and Water Resources”, scheduled for 16–18 September 2025 in Abuja. He highlighted the crucial role the Ministry will play in the forum, noting that agriculture consumes nearly 90% of available water resources.
He explained that the forum will provide opportunities for strategy development and collaboration in FAO’s intervention areas, including investments through grants, loans, and capacity building.
Dr. Hussein added that it will also serve as a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and the exchange of experiences.
While underscoring the importance of Public-Private Partnerships in crops, livestock, forestry, biodiversity, climate change, and food sustainability, he proposed the formation of a technical committee with the Ministry to develop a policy framework for strategic collaboration.
Present at the meeting was the Director of Irrigation and Drainage, Engr. Mrs. Esther Oyeronke Oluniyi, Deputy Director, Irrigation & Drainage Department, and FAO Desk Officer in the Ministry, Engr. Hauwa Sadique Muhammed.
