NAF Partners Agriculture, Livestock Ministries to Boost National Food Security
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deepened its collaboration with the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security as well as Livestock Development in a strategic move aimed at enhancing food security and supporting the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The engagement, which underscores the growing nexus between national security and food security, reflects the NAF’s commitment to strengthening civil-military cooperation beyond kinetic operations by investing in sustainable agricultural and livestock development initiatives.
During separate visits to the two ministries in Abuja, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, represented by Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, stressed that ensuring food security is critical to national stability and economic resilience.
At the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, AVM Gabkwet commended the Minister, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, for the remarkable achievements recorded by the ministry since its establishment in 2024.
He particularly praised the accelerated implementation of the National Ranching Policy, strategic partnerships with Brazil and New Zealand on livestock genetics and dairy production, as well as the establishment of National Livestock Centres aimed at improving access to feed and water resources.
He explained that the NAF’s proposed collaboration with the ministry aligns with the Federal Government’s broader agenda of boosting local production and promoting sustainable livestock management.
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AVM Gabkwet further requested support for the NAF in the areas of access to improved livestock breeds, veterinary services, and training opportunities for personnel and their dependents in modern animal husbandry, farm management, and agricultural technology.
Responding, the Minister of Livestock Development described the NAF initiative as strategic, visionary, and in line with global best practices that connect national security with food production systems. He also lauded the Air Force for its sustained efforts in combating insecurity across the country, noting that agricultural development can only thrive in a secure environment.
Similarly, at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, AVM Gabkwet praised the Minister, Senator Abubakar Kyari, for key interventions targeted at addressing food inflation, expanding dry-season farming, and strengthening strategic food reserves nationwide.
He appealed for the integration of NAF Farms Limited into the country’s agricultural development frameworks, particularly in areas such as mechanised farming, access to improved seedlings and fertilisers, and modern farming systems.
In his remarks, Senator Kyari commended the Nigerian Air Force for its contributions to counter-insurgency operations, especially in Borno State, assuring the delegation of the ministry’s readiness to support the NAF agricultural initiative.
The minister disclosed that the ministry would integrate NAF Farms Limited into existing agricultural programmes and collaborate with the Air Force on dry-season farming and strategic reserve initiatives.
Both ministries affirmed that formal frameworks would soon be established to facilitate sustained technical cooperation, policy integration, and knowledge sharing with the NAF.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural and livestock sectors, improve emergency response mechanisms in times of agricultural crises, and reinforce the synergy between military institutions and national development programmes.
The NAF delegation included the Managing Director of NAF Farms Limited, Air Vice Marshal Abdulrasheed Kotun; the Director of Cooperation and Coordination, Air Vice Marshal Chris Akpa; and other senior officers from the NAF Civil-Military Relations Branch.