The European Union, in partnership with the governments of the Czech Republic, Austria and Latvia, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at boosting food production and promoting sustainable agriculture in Nigeria through climate-smart technologies.
The programme, launched under the EU–Nigeria Twinning Project in Abuja, is designed to provide technical expertise and support Nigeria in building resilient and climate-adaptive agricultural systems.
Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, commended the EU and its partners for their continued investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He highlighted the growing challenges confronting farmers, including climate change, erratic rainfall, drought, flooding, land degradation, and the spread of pests and diseases, noting that these factors have significantly impacted productivity and rural livelihoods.
According to Abdullahi, adopting climate-smart agriculture is essential to tackling these threats while enhancing output and protecting the environment.
He explained that the Twinning Project would facilitate knowledge exchange and provide Nigeria with technical expertise to review its National Agricultural Resilience Framework and develop practical guidelines aligned with global best practices.
Also speaking, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described agriculture as central to Nigeria’s economy but acknowledged persistent challenges such as food insecurity, environmental pressures, and structural constraints.
Mignot stressed that addressing these issues requires not only funding but also strong institutions and effective policy implementation. He added that the initiative would help identify gaps in existing frameworks and deliver actionable recommendations to strengthen the sector.
Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, Ibrahim Tanimu, described the project as a timely intervention, bringing together European and Nigerian experts to develop practical solutions for climate and agricultural challenges.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration would bridge the gap between policy and implementation, ultimately improving food security and supporting sustainable agricultural transformation across the country.