A coalition of civil society organisations has urged the federal government to protect smallholder farmers from potential threats posed by agro-industrial giants. 

The coalition made the call on Tuesday while addressing journalists on the sidelines of a rally organised to raise awareness about the disadvantages of industrial farming in Abuja.

They called on the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Livestock to enact and enforce a strong land protection law, ensuring comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, as well as wide-ranging consultations.

The coalition includes the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HEDA Resource Centre, Environmental Health Action, World Animal Protection, Youth in Agro-Ecology and Restoration Network, among others.

Speaking at the rally, tHOMEF executive director  Nnimmo Bassey said that government policies must prioritise community control of food systems rather than ceding power to corporations.

Mr Bassey said that farmlands are more than economic assets as they are a heritage and a means of survival. He said that protecting the rights of smallholder farmers, who currently produce up to 70 percent of Nigeria’s food, is essential for sustainable national development.

Mr Bassey expressed concern over what he described as the “creeping industrialisation” of Nigeria’s food systems. According to him, the trend could displace smallholder farmers, degrade the environment, and undermine the country’s food sovereignty.

“When industrial agriculture takes over, local farmers lose their livelihoods, food systems become dependent on external control, and communities are stripped of their autonomy,” he said. “We call on government at all levels to enforce strict regulations on large-scale land acquisitions and agricultural projects. We want guarantee community consultation and consent before the allocation of farmland for industrial operations.”

He added, “We call for support for smallholder farmers through public investment, access to markets, and agroecological training and involvement of civil society and local farmers in decision-making processes concerning agricultural development.

Mariann Bassey-Olsson, deputy director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, discouraged industrial farming. She said that industrial animal farming promotes a model of production that centralises control in the hands of a few corporations while marginalising local producers.

“Factory farming erodes local autonomy and pushes small farmers off their lands; it deepens inequality, damages ecosystems, and exposes rural communities to environmental and economic exploitation. The real path forward is Agroecology, an approach that restores dignity, promotes food sovereignty, and strengthens local economies,” she said.

YARN’s director of programmes, Oluwuyi Seyi, warned against large-scale land acquisitions by corporate interests. According to him, across Africa, we are witnessing an increasing number of cases of land grabs disguised as agricultural investments.

“These projects often result in mass displacement, loss of livelihoods, and erosion of traditional farming systems. Nigeria must not repeat those mistakes,” he said.

He urged the government to enact and enforce strong land protection laws, ensuring that any agricultural project undergoes a comprehensive ESIA and that communities are meaningfully consulted before approval.

(NAN)