Nigeria unveils new digital tool for transboundary plant disease surveillance  

Omeiza Bilal

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its leadership in regional agriculture and food security as it hosts the Central and West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) Regional Convening, to strengthen surveillance of transboundary plant diseases across Africa.

Speaking during the official opening of the event held in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi stated that the convening is a celebration of partnership and a reaffirmation of Africa’s collective responsibility to safeguard crops that feed millions, sustain economies, and secure the continent’s future.

Sen Dr. Abdullahi noted that “Plant health is food security. Without healthy crops, we cannot guarantee sufficient food, improve farmers’ incomes, or achieve sustainable economic development. This is why the work of WAVE is so timely and important’’. 

He pointed out that transboundary plant pests and diseases such as Fall Armyworm, Cassava Brown Streak Disease, Banana Bunchy Top Virus, and Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease continue to threaten productivity, livelihoods, and trade across the region.

He added that climate change is accelerating their spread and making early detection and coordinated response more urgent than ever.

He stated that “Paragraph 14 of the Abuja Declaration calls on all member states to domesticate regional protocols on plant health and to invest in digital surveillance systems. Today’s unveiling directly responds to that call’’.

The Minister revealed that ‘’the Declaration further outlines specific actions for member states, including strengthening surveillance and early warning systems for pests and diseases, and promoting Integrated Pest Management practices to reduce reliance on chemicals’’.

‘’It also calls for expanding diagnostic and laboratory capacities, improving emergency response mechanisms for transboundary pests and diseases, and supporting research, innovation, and collaboration with regional and international partners’’, he added. 

According to the Minister, ‘’the tool will enable governments to make faster, evidence-based decisions during disease outbreaks and to deploy limited resources more effectively through targeted interventions. By strengthening early warning and emergency response systems for transboundary pests and diseases, the platform also supports the growth of digital agriculture and data-driven policy making across the region’’.

He mentioned that Nigeria has been selected as the demonstration case for the tool, reflecting the country’s commitment to modernizing agriculture and strengthening pest surveillance systems.

The Minister acknowledged the valuable partnership with the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) and the many national, regional, and international institutions that continue to invest in strengthening plant health systems across the continent.

He further emphasized that protecting plant health is not solely the responsibility of governments, stating that “It requires the active participation of researchers, universities, extension workers, development partners, private sector organizations, farmer associations, and local communities.”

He reiterated the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s commitment to building a resilient, productive, and technology-driven agricultural sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

He commended the WAVE Programme, National Plant Protection Organizations, development partners, donor agencies, researchers, farmer organizations, and the organizing committee for their dedication.

The Minister urged participants to “exchange knowledge openly, challenge conventional thinking, and build stronger partnerships that will continue long after this meeting concludes.”

Senator Abdullah officially revealed the WAVE Research Logo, described as a symbol of scientific excellence, innovation, collaboration, and resilience. 

He noted that the logo represents “renewed hope for stronger regional cooperation, faster disease detection, better surveillance systems, and more resilient food systems across our continent.”

In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi said that ‘’ the challenges posed by transboundary pests and plant diseases know no national boundaries. Our response must therefore be collective, coordinated, science-driven, and sustained’’. 

Dr. Ogunbiyi encouraged ‘’all participants to take full advantage of this Convening to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships, develop practical solutions, and chart a common path towards a more resilient and food-secure West and Central Africa’’.

He revealed that ‘’As Nigeria implements the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministry remains committed to strengthening national plant health systems, promoting integrated pest management, enhancing agricultural biosecurity, and fostering strategic partnerships that contribute to sustainable agricultural development and national food security’’.

During his Presentation on WAVE’s path to Impact, the Executive Director, the Central and West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE), Prof. Justin Pita said that the initiative would focus on safeguarding food security by predicting and controlling viral diseases that threaten staple root and tuber crops like cassava, yams, and sweet potatoes.

The 3-day forum brought together Ministers, Commissioners of Agriculture, Heads of National Plant Protection Organizations, WAVE Country Directors, representatives of international and regional organizations, the diplomatic community, and other stakeholders from across West and Central Africa

The highlight of the convening was the launch of the WAVE Rapid Response Decision Support Tool, a new digital platform that integrates real-time surveillance data, scientific analysis, and predictive modeling.