By Chinazaekpere Chinwendu
The Mayor of Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Hon Anthony Nzeribe Nwaubani, PhD, FCA, FCIB, has advocated stronger collaboration among the three tiers of government and the private sector as a strategic pathway to unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential, strengthening food security and promoting peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders as well as enhancing economic wellbeing of the people.
Nwaubani made the submission while speaking on behalf of the South East chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) at a two-day conference held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja. The conference, which was concluded on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, brought together key stakeholders in local government administration, traditional institutions and intergovernmental affairs to deliberate on practical approaches to effective grassroots governance and national development.
The conference was organised by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs in conjunction with ALGON and chairmen of traditional rulers from the 36 states of the federation. Deliberations at the forum focused extensively on practical mechanisms through which local government chairmen could work collaboratively with the Federal and State Governments to implement public policies and translate government programmes into tangible dividends of democracy for citizens at the grassroots.
One of the major highlight of the engagement was a paper presented by Mr Jerry Cunningham on the protection and enhancement of the economic interests of farmers and herders through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) business model.
Speaking on the subject, Nwaubani expressed strong support for the proposition, urging governments at all levels to give the model deliberate and sustained attention as part of broader efforts to reposition agriculture and address longstanding socioeconomic challenges associated with the farmer-herder relationship.
The Ikwuano Mayor argued that a well-structured PPP framework could transform farmers and herders from competing economic units into complementary partners within an organised agricultural value chain. According to him, such an approach would create room for productive investment, improved access to markets and infrastructure, greater economic opportunities and more sustainable livelihoods, while reducing the conditions that often fuel tension and conflict between both groups.
Nwaubani further noted that the effective adoption of the PPP model could contribute significantly to peaceful coexistence, increased food production and national food security. He also linked the initiative to the broader imperative of tackling kidnapping and banditry, stressing that economically empowered communities with viable agricultural opportunities would be better positioned to resist criminality and build more stable local economies. He maintained that strengthening the economic wellbeing of farmers, herders and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector remained critical to achieving inclusive and sustainable development.
His submission reportedly attracted commendation from several prominent participants at the conference, including the Federal Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Rt. Hon. Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo, MFR; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu; one of the South East representatives of the traditional rulers, HRM Eze Nelson Emerengwa; and the paper presenter, Mr Jerry Cunningham, among others.
The recognition further displayed Nwaubani’s growing engagement in policy conversations beyond the confines of Ikwuano, particularly on issues relating to grassroots development, intergovernmental cooperation, agricultural productivity and community security. His participation also provided an avenue for the South East to contribute its perspective to national conversations on how local governments can become more effective instruments for translating federal policies into measurable socioeconomic benefits.
For Nwaubani, the conference reinforced the need for local government authorities to move beyond administrative functions and assume a more proactive role in economic development, social cohesion and policy implementation. His advocacy for a collaborative PPP framework reflects an emphasis on partnerships capable of harnessing government resources, private-sector expertise and community participation to address complex development challenges.
As local governments continue to occupy a strategic position in Nigeria’s grassroots development architecture, the Ikwuano Mayor’s intervention has further highlighted the importance of innovative partnerships, constructive intergovernmental relations and inclusive economic policies in delivering sustainable development. His position at the Abuja conference, therefore, represents another significant engagement in the continuing search for practical solutions to Nigeria’s agricultural, security and socioeconomic challenges.
