The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has revealed Nigeria’s long-term food security will depend largely on engineering-driven solutions, including mechanised farming, modern irrigation systems, efficient storage infrastructure and agro-processing technologies. 

This revelation was made on Saturday in Abuja at the inauguration of the 17th National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE) and newly elected executive committee members.”

He stated that Nigeria’s ambition for food sufficiency and national stability would remain unattainable without the deliberate deployment of engineering expertise across agriculture, infrastructure and security.

Kyari described food security as a national security issue, noting that insecurity continues to disrupt farming, processing, storage, transportation and access to markets. 

According to him, engineering-led interventions such as mechanised equipment, irrigation systems, agro-processing facilities and cold-chain logistics are vital to stabilising food supply while easing socio-economic pressures that often fuel insecurity.

“These engineering solutions improve productivity and food availability, but they also create jobs, stimulate rural economies and reduce the vulnerabilities that drive insecurity,” the minister said.

He added that the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is prioritising food sufficiency, industrialisation, local manufacturing and human capital development. 

Engineering capacity, he stressed, sits at the heart of these national objectives.

Nigeria has continued to struggle with rising food inflation, low mechanisation levels and weak industrial capacity. 

In agriculture, limited access to modern farming tools, inefficient irrigation and inadequate storage and processing facilities have contributed to low yields and high post-harvest losses. 

The industrial sector, meanwhile, remains heavily dependent on imports due to gaps in local manufacturing and engineering expertise.

Speaking at the event, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ali Rabiu, mentioned that mechanical and energy engineering remain foundational to Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic competitiveness. 

He noted that rapid technological change has elevated the role of engineers across manufacturing, construction, communications and energy sectors.

Rabiu called for stronger alignment between professional engineering bodies and Nigeria’s national agenda for energy resilience, innovation and infrastructure development, urging institutions to focus on research, standards, professional development and capacity building.

In his inaugural address, Babagana Modu Tela, the newly elected National Chairman of NIMechE, described his emergence as a call to service and a new chapter for the institution. He also said that mechanical engineers remain central to Nigeria’s industrialisation and agricultural transformation.

Presenting the theme of his administration, “Engineered for Progress: A New Era of Innovation and Inclusion,” Tela outlined priority areas including youth development, mentorship, policy advocacy, sustainability and professional standards. 

He emphasised that empowering young engineers would be critical to building climate-smart agriculture, resilient food systems and sustainable livelihoods.

The keynote address by the Director General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Babatunde Alaya, further highlighted the strategic importance of indigenous engineering capacity. 

He stated that national security, industrial resilience, and food security are increasingly interconnected, all of which require strong local engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

Alaya disclosed that DICON has entered multiple partnerships to expand domestic production of defence and security equipment, a move he said reflects the broader need for engineering-led solutions across critical sectors of the economy.

Stakeholders at the event agreed that without sustained investment in engineering skills, infrastructure and innovation, Nigeria’s efforts to secure food, create jobs and strengthen rural economies may fall short of expectations.

Source: Punch