It is common for people to claim that Nigeria is peaceful, but our behavior contradicts this statement. Although there is a degree of peace, we do not appreciate it. Citizens and the government, in various ways, have contributed to letting insecurity grow throughout the country. We become accustomed to disorder until it turns into a norm, and then we are surprised when others take notice.
Last week, I participated in a radio discussion on using technology to achieve food security, and the topic of livestock and grazing paths was raised. Shortly after, U.S. President Donald Trump gained international attention by labeling Nigeria as a country of particular concern, pointing to widespread violence and lack of government response. While his comments may appear politically motivated, they reveal an undeniable reality: when a country fails to protect its citizens, regardless of their faith—Christians, Muslims, or Pagans—alongside its economy and food systems, it risks losing both its reputation and authority.
Food security is impossible without peace and stability. When there is fear and violence, farmers cannot cultivate, herders cannot move their livestock, traders cannot carry out their business, and investors cannot introduce technology. Each instance of insecurity that displaces a farmer or disrupts a grazing path leads to a decline in food production, an increase in hunger, and damage to the economy.
During our radio discussion about grazing paths, we weren't merely referring to farmers and livestock, but rather the framework of national coexistence. These routes, if accurately mapped, digitized, and protected, could avoid conflicts between farmers and herders that have resulted in thousands of deaths and disturbed large agricultural regions.
However, over the years, poor land management, climate change, and ineffective governance have transformed what was once a pastoral system into a source of tension. Technology and data-based mapping could have averted much of this, if peace had been given higher importance.
Trump's latest comment goes beyond foreign analysis; it serves as a reflection of Nigeria. It highlights how insecurity, which was once internal, has now turned into an issue of global significance. When international leaders doubt Nigeria's ability to safeguard its people, it conveys a message to investors, aid providers, and development allies that instability carries economic repercussions.
The issue in Nigeria is not the lack of policy; it's the failure to implement and hold people accountable. We possess policies regarding grazing corridors, food safety, and agricultural advancement. What we are missing is the commitment to enforce these policies and the vision to incorporate technology into our national security and growth plans.
What if Nigeria established a National Agricultural Data Bank that consolidates data about farms, grazing paths, rain patterns, soil quality, and the movement of livestock? Picture drones overseeing migration areas, solar-driven wells providing water along grazing routes, and digital tracking systems minimizing cattle theft.
These are not daydreams; they are actual strategies being implemented throughout Africa: Kenya employs GPS collars to track livestock and minimize disputes.
Ethiopia's Livestock Information Vision (LIV) tracks animal populations as they happen. Ghana's Food Safety Authority maintains a centralized digital food database.
In Nigeria, progress is still fragmented – notable initiatives without sustained follow-up. When the environment is unstable, the adoption of technology decreases. Investors withdraw. Data becomes outdated. Farmers revert to basic survival strategies.
When I mention that the citizens and the government have been involved, I refer to quietness and apathy. Neighborhoods make robbery routine, officials use aggression for political gain, and organizations operate separately. We consider 'some peace' sufficient, even though it's unstable.
Each time we overlook minor indicators such as restricted paths, missing livestock, relocated farmers, and unexamined financial support, we play a role in a broader national downfall. And each time officials or residents defend not taking action by saying 'it's not my concern,' we reinforce the pattern of instability.
How can we transition from assigning blame to creating a plan? Constant criticism will not address the issues threatening our country's stability. We need to take firm action, as the problem we face runs deeply into agriculture, the foundation for 30 to 40 million Nigerians who rely on the land to live.
Our food systems are facing challenges due to instability, poor policy alignment, and insufficient attention to essential infrastructure. Moving ahead involves more than just anger. It calls for unified, quantifiable, and tech-focused efforts that bring back stability and efficiency in our rural areas.
Here's how we begin:
1. Utilize technology and community involvement to digitize and protect grazing paths, minimizing disputes, enhancing surveillance, and rebuilding confidence between farmers and herders.
2. Create a National Food Security Data Bank that combines farmer registration, crop mapping, and livestock tracking to support national planning and response efforts.
3. Equip and educate young individuals as digital extension agents to connect farmers and herders with up-to-the-minute data, weather updates, and conflict notifications.
4. Implement land-use regulations and guarantee that transitions in ranching are fair, long-lasting, and ecologically responsible.
5. View peace as a foundational structure. allocate resources to it with the same dedication we apply to roads, electrical systems, and internet connections.
President Trump's latest comments regarding Nigeria might hurt our sense of national pride, yet they should prompt a deeper reflection on our national responsibility. They highlight the fact that no country can delegate its security to others. If we are unable to ensure safety in our farms, fields, and markets, then no drone, financial support, or online service can save us.
The truth is straightforward yet pressing: Food security starts with peace. Technology supports it. Governance safeguards it. And only shared accountability can maintain it. Some believe there is a larger context involved, which might be accurate, but I choose to concentrate on how we got to this point.
We should appreciate the current peace we enjoy before the world once more reminds us of the consequences of losing it.
Abdulmalik writes on behalf of CEO Green Growth, maryamabdulmalik61@gmail.com
Source: Farhan Magazine
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).