In Northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, violence has driven millions from their homes and hampered access to agricultural lands and assets, creating massive humanitarian needs in an area already struggling with food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation. Host communities, in particular, have been struggling for several years now to feed the displaced as well as their own.

As humanitarian access improves, revealing the magnitude of impact of the conflict, the time has come to support both people who remained on their land and those who decide to return to their original livelihoods. 

FAO's long-term strategy for the Lake Chad region puts a special emphasis on supporting refugees, internally displaced families and host communities, as these are the most vulnerable groups in this crisis. Interventions are geared to improving their food security and nutrition and building their resilience so they are better equipped to handle future shocks. In addition, restoring agriculture-based livelihoods will offer a unique opportunity to pave the way to recovery and peace in the affected areas.

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva will visit communities in Northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin to highlight theneed to support local efforts to increase the resilience of people in rural areas whose agriculture-based livelihoods have been hit hard by recurrent crises in the region.  

Graziano da Silva is also scheduled to meet farmers at several FAO-supported farms at Gongulong and Old Maiduguri, near Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria.

On 6 April, in Ndjamena, the FAO Director-general will meet the President of Chad, Idriss I. Deby.

On 7 April, in Maiduguri, Graziano da Silva will meet the Executive Governor of Borno State, H.E. Kashim Shettima as well as the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, T.H Audu Ogbeh

Meetings are scheduled with Ministers in charge of portfolios related to FAO mandate:

-In Ndjamena: Ministers of Production, Irrigation and Farm Equipment; Livestock and Animal Production; Environment and Fisheries

-In Maiduguri: Commissioners of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Animal resources and fisheries development

Mr. Graziano will be accompanied by Bukar Tijani, FAO Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative for Africa, and Dominique Burgeon, Strategic Programme Leader-Resilience/Director, Emergencies and Rehabilitation Division (FAO).

WHEN/WHERE:  6/8 April 2017 in Ndjamena

                           7 April 2017 in Maiduguri