By Ese Ufuoma
At a recent Presidential Roundtable on Agriculture held in Abuja, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, articulated a strategic vision for Nigeria’s agricultural sector, positioning the nation as a leading agribusiness destination in Africa.
The Minister emphasized the leveraging of Nigeria’s substantial consumer base, exceeding 200 million, and its strategic access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, which encompasses over 1.4 billion consumers.
He underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming agriculture from a subsistence-based activity to a structured, private-sector-driven economic ecosystem. He highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on agriculture as a critical policy initiative aimed at ensuring national food security and fostering economic diversification.
At the event, Nigeria’s agricultural potential, characterized by vast arable land, a favourable climate, and a dynamic youth population, was presented as a significant asset that the Nigerian government is actively pursuing the removal of investment barriers to establish an enabling regulatory environment to attract both domestic and foreign capital into.
Strategic partnerships with international development institutions, including the African Development Bank, World Bank, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Islamic Development Bank, are being leveraged to finance large-scale agricultural projects and enhance food system resilience. These collaborations, Kyari stated, are crucial in mitigating the impacts of global economic challenges and climate change.
President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Arch. Kabir Ibrahim reiterated the private sector’s commitment to supporting government initiatives. He highlighted ongoing advancements in mechanisation, all-season farming, and increased access to credit through the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture. The focus on youth engagement in agriculture is expected to drive productivity and create sustainable wealth.
Giving his comments, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Agribusiness, Kingsley Uzoma, emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving sustainable agricultural growth with NABG’s Director General, Jafar Umar, describing the roundtable as a critical forum for aligning policies and enhancing Nigeria’s agribusiness competitiveness within regional food markets.
The roundtable concluded with a consensus among stakeholders, policymakers, and investors to implement actionable strategies aimed at enhancing food security and establishing Nigeria as a dominant force in African agribusiness. Key initiatives include investment in mechanization and extension systems to enhance productivity, increased access to credit for farmers and agribusinesses through the Bank of Agriculture, streamlining regulatory frameworks to attract investment and facilitate trade, fostering agripreneurship among young people to drive innovation and growth as well as collaborating with international institutions to leverage expertise and financial resources.
These strategic initiatives are expected to position Nigeria as a key player in the African agribusiness landscape, driving economic growth and ensuring food security.