Federal Government don dey call investors to join hand with Nigeria for agricultural sector as climate change dey threaten food production. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, make dis appeal through statement wey Head of Information Department, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, sign on Monday.
According to di statement, FG don call investors, financial institutions, and development partners to collaborate with Nigeria for vision to build resilient food system, climate-smart farming, and expand sustainable agricultural production. Dem say dem want unlock di big potential of Africa largest agricultural market.
Kyari talk say Nigeria agricultural sector dey employ nearly 70 percent of di country labour force and dey contribute over 24 percent to Gross Domestic Product. Him explain say Nigeria diverse agro-ecological zones dey make am fit produce plenty commodities like rice, maize, cassava, cocoa, sesame, sorghum, and horticultural crops for both local and international markets.
But di minister warn say climate change dey continue threaten agricultural productivity. Him mention prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, flooding, and desertification as major risks to food security. Him stress say di need dey urgent to transition to climate-resilient farming systems, and inadequate financing remain big obstacle.
“While public financing remain essential, unlocking di scale of investment wey we need go depend on stronger participation from private capital and development finance partners,” Kyari talk. “Access to finance na major constraint for farmers across Nigeria, and e dey limit productivity for di sector. Despite credit schemes wey dey across di country, total credit wey farmers fit access still dey limited, reach N3.4 trillion as of April 2025. Even though dis amount look big, e still less than 4 percent of agriculture contribution to di country GDP.”
Kyari disclose say Federal Government don take steps to address di challenges, including declaration of national state of emergency on food security by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for July 2023. Him add say inauguration of Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit by Vice President Kashim Shettima na to ensure coordination of interventions across all levels of government.
Di minister list key initiatives wey government introduce, including distribution of solar-powered irrigation pumps to smallholder farmers, development of climate-resilient seed systems, and National Agricultural Mechanization Programme wey don procure 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 farm implements.
Other programmes include Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme wey dey design to modernise post-harvest handling and storage systems, and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones initiative wey dey aim to boost value addition and market access.
Kyari note say institutions like Bank of Agriculture, Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund, and National Agricultural Insurance Corporation dey strengthen to attract private investment and reduce risks for di sector. Him add say National Agricultural Land Development Authority dey undergo restructuring to support large-scale agricultural investments, while Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service dey enhance to improve standards and facilitate international trade.
Di minister identify key investment opportunities for irrigation technologies, mechanisation, seed development, cold storage, agro-processing, and agricultural logistics. Him assure investors say Federal Government dey commit to create enabling environment for sustainable agricultural growth and value chain development.
“Make I reaffirm Nigerian government commitment to provide enabling policy environment. We don prioritise climate action inside our Nationally Determined Contributions and don embed climate resilience into Agricultural Transformation Agenda,” Kyari talk. “Through initiatives like National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy, we dey foster private sector participation, support climate-smart agribusinesses, and strengthen land tenure security.”
Kyari urge United Kingdom investors to explore opportunities for Nigeria agricultural sector through joint investment platforms and innovative financing structures wey align with global sustainability standards. Him emphasise say Nigeria get di potential, market size, and policy direction to drive agricultural transformation, while calling for stronger collaboration to build resilient food systems globally.
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