The Federal Government has launched the AgriShield Initiative to strengthen the connection between national security and food security by helping farmers safely access their farms, cultivate crops and transport their harvests to markets.
The initiative is being led by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser, in partnership with TAG International, with Borno State serving as the pilot location.
The Special Adviser to the National Security Adviser on Strategic Communication and Civil Society Liaison, Dr Chido Onumah, said the initiative would focus on safer livelihoods, agricultural recovery and a more secure national food supply. He said its central message, “Our Presence is Your Peace,” was intended to demonstrate how security interventions could translate into practical benefits for farming communities.
Onumah said a baseline survey conducted between June and July across 18 wards in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere and Mafa Local Government Areas showed a significant gap in public awareness of government security initiatives.
The survey, which covered 1,409 residents, found that only 17 per cent were aware of local initiatives addressing violent extremism, while about two per cent knew about the National Counter-Terrorism Centre. At the same time, 86 per cent expressed strong interest in information about government security efforts.
He said the survey identified unemployment, cost of living and food insecurity as major concerns, with 81 per cent, 70 per cent and 57 per cent of respondents respectively highlighting them.
The pilot campaign will therefore run from October to December through radio programmes, town hall meetings, local drama and testimonies from farmers and security personnel. Four radio stations are expected to broadcast 24 talk shows and 80 jingles in Hausa and Kanuri, while six town hall meetings will provide opportunities for communities to engage security representatives.
Onumah said radio would remain central to the campaign, with 67 per cent of respondents accessing information through the medium and 41 per cent identifying it as their most trusted source. Community and religious leaders will also be involved, while Facebook, TikTok, SMS and telephone platforms will be used to reach younger people and farmers with limited internet access.
The initiative involves several federal institutions, including the Nigeria Police Force, Defence Headquarters, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, National Orientation Agency, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution and NIRSAL Plc.
Onumah said the campaign would also receive support from civil society organisations in Borno State and technical assistance from TAG International, while an endline survey in December would assess changes in public awareness, trust and understanding.
He added that the initiative was based on the government’s position that food security could not be separated from human security, as safer farming communities would be better positioned to produce food and contribute to national food resilience.
