FG to junk adulterated seeds, boost food security

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

To secure the nation’s food supply and enhance agricultural productivity, the federal government has pledged to phase out adulterated seeds from the market and promote the widespread use of certified quality seeds across the country.

The commitment was made by the Director General of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Fatuhu Buhari, during a formal handover ceremony held in Abuja, where he received briefing notes from the outgoing Acting Director General, Dr. Ishiak Khalid.

Buhari highlighted the critical role of seeds in transforming Nigeria’s food system and unlocking its agribusiness potential, describing them as the very foundation of a productive and sustainable farming ecosystem.

“Seeds are the first link in the agricultural value chain, the tiny but mighty catalysts of abundance. “Without quality seeds, there can be no thriving farms; without thriving farms, there can be no food security.”

He emphasised that under his leadership, NASC would reposition itself as a key stakeholder in Nigeria’s food security architecture by strengthening the seed value chain, encouraging innovation, and collaborating with researchers and agri-tech firms to produce climate-smart seed varieties.

According to him, “We are engaging seed companies, development agencies, and investors to scale up production and distribution.” He added that expanding seed multiplication programmes would ensure affordability and accessibility for farmers nationwide.

However, Buhari stressed that the Council’s ambitious vision could not be achieved in isolation. “This is not a journey I can undertake alone,” he noted. “I call upon farmers—your feedback will guide our policies. Researchers and seed companies—your innovations will drive our progress. Development partners—your support will amplify our impact.”

Earlier, Dr. Ishiak Khalid, the outgoing Acting DG of NASC, highlighted the Council’s recent achievements, including Nigeria’s accreditation by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and its admission into the OECD Seed Schemes. These milestones, he said, have significantly enhanced Nigeria’s global credibility in the seed industry.

Khalid also celebrated Nigeria’s accession as the 80th member of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), describing it as a breakthrough in strengthening intellectual property rights for plant breeders and promoting innovation.

He noted that NASC had successfully restructured the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) into a unified and more accountable entity. Additionally, the Council launched the National Seed Roadmap Dashboard, a digital platform designed to monitor seed production, ensure regulatory compliance, and identify real-time investment opportunities within the sector.