The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), , yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen agricultural resilience and improve food security across the country.

The agreement signed with OSPRE, which is the Nigeria’s National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanisms is aimed at developing the framework for a multi-hazard Agricultural Early Warning and Response System designed to support timely intervention in addressing threats to agricultural productivity and food systems.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim while speaking at the signing of the MoU in Abuja said the partnership is a reflection of commitment by the Fund to build a stronger support systems for farmers and agribusinesses operating within increasingly difficult conditions.

He pointed out that climate variability, environmental degradation, pest outbreaks and market disruptions continue to pose serious risks to agricultural production and investment in the sector.

However , Ibrahim mentioned t that one of the core pillars of NADF’s strategy is emergency response and resilience support for farmers and agricultural communities, saying the collaboration would help move from reactive interventions to a more proactive approach in responding to threats affecting food production nationwide,” he said.

The NADF Chief explained that under the arrangement, both institutions will work towards deploying an Agricultural Early Warning System that integrates geospatial intelligence, data aggregation and predictive analysis across Nigeria’s agroecological zones.

He said the initiative is expected to support farmers, policymakers, financial institutions and other stakeholders with timely information for planning and response.

Director-General of OSPRE, Chris Ngwodo, described the agreement as an important step towards improving coordination on food security and climate resilience.

According to him, “human security is not limited to physical security alone; it also includes food systems, climate shocks, livelihoods, and community resilience.”

Ngwodo explained that OSPRE, established in line with ECOWAS protocols on early warning and response mechanisms, is mandated to monitor and address threats related to food security, environmental risks and community stability.

The partnership is also expected to improve data-driven decision-making, strengthen early response mechanisms and support national efforts aimed at protecting food-producing communities and enhancing investor confidence in the agricultural sector.