In today’s rapidly changing world, national security extends far beyond military defence. It now encompasses economic stability, food security, climate resilience, and the prevention of social unrest—issues increasingly intertwined with Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Agriculture is the backbone of rural life, employing over 70% of the rural population and contributing 37% to the national GDP. Yet, it remains one of the most vulnerable sectors, facing threats from erratic rainfall, floods, pests, market volatility, and violent conflicts, including farmer–herder clashes. These risks do more than harm individual farmers—they can trigger nationwide instability. Failed harvests, livestock losses, and conflict-driven displacement often lead to food shortages, price hikes, hunger, and in severe cases, migration, rural banditry, or radicalisation among unemployed youths.
Insurance as a Shield for Food Systems and Peace
Agricultural insurance is more than a financial product—it is a strategic defence against crises. By cushioning farmers from devastating losses, it stabilises food production, sustains rural economies, and prevents insecurity from taking root. A nation unable to feed its people becomes vulnerable to internal upheaval and external pressure.
Recent history underscores this urgency. The 2012 and 2022 floods destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland. Farmers covered by the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) received compensation and resumed production. Those without insurance lost everything, falling into poverty and unemployment—conditions that fuel insurgency and rural violence.
Access to insurance not only allows farmers to recover quickly but also encourages investment in modern, climate-smart practices that improve yields. Without it, many abandon their farms after a disaster, leading to long-term declines in food supply.
Building a Resilient Agricultural Insurance Framework
To meet today’s security challenges, Nigeria must overhaul and expand its agricultural insurance system. This includes:
- Massive investment to ensure no farmer loses crops or livestock without compensation.
- Integration of smallholder farmers—the most vulnerable—into the insurance ecosystem.
- Conflict resolution support, using insurance to reduce tensions between farmers and herders.
- Decentralised services, with community-based agencies and partnerships with cooperatives and pastoralist groups.
- Digital platforms for quick registration, education, and payouts, ensuring transparency and building trust.
- Parametric and weather-index products for fast disaster payouts, reducing the gap between loss and recovery.
The newly appointed NAIC management’s push to insure more rural farmers is a welcome development. However, success will require strong federal government backing and inclusion of agricultural insurance in national economic planning, security strategies, and disaster management frameworks.
Linking Agriculture, Climate, and Security
Nigeria, like many Sahel nations, is on the frontlines of climate change, with rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and frequent floods threatening livelihoods. Agricultural insurance must become a core part of the country’s climate adaptation and rural security agenda.
Protecting farmers protects the nation. A well-structured agricultural insurance system is not just about economic recovery—it is about preserving stability, reducing dependency, and building peace from the ground up. Without it, the foundation of Nigeria’s food security—and by extension, its national security—remains dangerously exposed.
