FG moves to mitigate transboundary pests

The Federal Government has begun a comprehensive review and validation of Nigeria’s National Integrated Pest and Plant Diseases Management Strategy, aimed at tackling the growing threat of transboundary and migratory pests that continue to undermine food security and agricultural productivity.

The exercise commenced on Tuesday at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Gudu-Abuja, during an experts’ workshop attended by agricultural researchers, development partners, private-sector stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and farmers’ associations.

Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the country’s agricultural sector, responsible for millions of livelihoods, faces severe pressures from recurring infestations such as Fall Armyworm, ginger blight, Tuta absoluta, quelea birds, and other invasive species.

“These pests have caused substantial crop losses, reduced productivity, and inflicted severe economic setbacks, especially on smallholder farmers. Their impacts go beyond farms, threatening food and nutrition security and, in some cases, national stability”, Ogunbiyi said.

He stressed that the evolving challenges demand a coordinated, science-based, and sustainable response, which the National Strategy aims to provide through improved prevention, early detection, rapid response mechanisms, and environmentally responsible pest management techniques.

“Our strategies must remain dynamic and adaptive,” he added, urging participants to thoroughly assess the document and recommend practical improvements that align with regional and international pest surveillance frameworks.

Ogunbiyi also commended the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other development partners for their long-standing technical support, assuring that the Ministry is committed to strengthening extension services, building farmers’ capacity, and enhancing early warning systems.

In her welcome address, the Director, Plant Health and Pest Control Services Department, Dr. Grace Iwendi, described the workshop as crucial to Nigeria’s food system resilience.

She noted that climate variability, increased movement of goods, and ecological changes have intensified pest invasions, making a robust national strategy imperative.

“Transboundary and migratory pests such as locusts, quelea birds, armyworms, and invasive diseases are becoming more frequent and severe. To address these threats, Nigeria must improve preparedness, surveillance, and rapid-response capabilities” she said.

Iwendi emphasized the need for a dynamic, science-driven, and actionable strategy that strengthens the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and control pest outbreaks in a timely and coordinated manner.

She commended stakeholders from research institutions, extension systems, regulatory agencies, and international bodies for their commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s plant health sector, adding that their expertise is essential to producing a strategy aligned with global phytosanitary standards.

Both leaders stressed that the success of the revised strategy will depend on implementation, collaboration, and continuous innovation.

Participants are expected to review gaps, share field-based solutions, and validate a national framework that enhances pest surveillance, improves emergency response, and protects crops, farmers, and national food security.

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