ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve Strategy Undergoes Review as First Steering Committee Meets in Abuja.
By Raymond Enoch
The first meeting of the Steering Committee for the review of the Regional Storage Strategy and the adjustment of the Regional Food Security Reserve (RFSR) commenced today 20th March 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria s capital .
This landmark event signals the beginning of an ambitious process aimed at reinforcing the capacity and efficiency of the region’s food security mechanisms.
The meeting, organized by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), seeks to establish the Steering Committee, which will lead the revision of the Regional Storage Strategy and implement adjustments to the RFSR. These efforts are crucial for preparing the region for the next phase of the Reserve’s deployment, which is essential in safeguarding food security across West Africa.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Mr. Mohamed ZONGO, Acting Director of the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF), spoke on behalf of Mrs. Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture. ZONGO emphasized that the meeting would serve as a critical foundation for a strategic review that would further bolster the region’s food security framework. He highlighted the need to assess progress to date and identify necessary adjustments that would increase the Reserve’s capacity to respond to the region’s needs effectively.
Representing Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Engr. Onyema OKWUDIRI, Director of the Food and Strategic Reserve Department, stressed that the meeting would play a vital role in improving the growth and sustainability of the RFSR. He noted that the committee’s deliberations would lead to the enhancement of Nigeria’s and the broader West African region’s food security preparedness.
This review comes at a critical time, as the region faces ongoing challenges related to food scarcity, climate change, and economic instability. The outcomes of the Steering Committee’s work are expected to provide key insights that will enable ECOWAS and its member states to respond more effectively to these challenges.
The revised Regional Food Security Reserve, when fully deployed, is poised to be an integral tool in strengthening food security across the region, ensuring that the people of West Africa have reliable access to food during periods of scarcity or crisis.
