The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stressed the urgent need to enhance food production mechanisms and crisis response strategies to address rising food insecurity in the region.
Speaking at the Third Meeting of the Management Committee of the Regional Food Security Reserve in Abuja, stakeholders examined solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change, conflicts, and economic instability on food supply.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, revealed that 34.7 million people across West Africa and the Sahel require immediate food and nutritional assistance. He urged stronger strategies, better food storage systems, and increased agricultural investment to combat shortages and price volatility.
Established in 2013, the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve (RFSR) remains a key tool in managing food crises. Acting Director of the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food, Mohammed Zongo, called for a review of the Reserve’s operational framework to enhance efficiency and transparency. Currently holding over 74,000 tonnes of food, the Reserve supports ECOWAS member states, Chad, and Mauritania in emergency response efforts.
Zongo acknowledged the support of technical and financial partners, including the French Development Agency, World Bank, European Union, and Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, in implementing the ECOWAS Regional Storage Strategy.
Stakeholders were urged to remain committed to strengthening governance, operational models, and emergency response mechanisms to safeguard food security for the region’s most vulnerable populations.
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