The Federal Government has called on investors to collaborate with Nigeria in harnessing its agricultural potential while tackling the growing impact of climate change on food production and security.
The appeal was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, through a statement signed by the Head, Department of Information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna.
According to the statement, “The Federal Government has called on investors, financial institutions, and development partners to collaborate with Nigeria in its vision of building a resilient food system, climate-smart farming, and expanding sustainable agricultural production, as well as unlocking the enormous potential of Africa’s largest agricultural market”.
Kyari highlighted Nigeria’s vast agricultural capacity, noting that the sector employs nearly 70% of the country’s labour force and contributes over 24% to its Gross Domestic Product.
He explained that Nigeria’s diverse agro-ecological zones position it to competitively produce a wide range of commodities, including rice, maize, cassava, cocoa, sesame, sorghum, and horticultural crops for both domestic and international markets.
The minister, however, warned that climate change continues to threaten agricultural productivity, citing prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, flooding, and desertification as major risks to food security.
He stressed the urgent need for transition to climate-resilient farming systems, noting that inadequate financing remains a major obstacle.
“While public financing remains essential, unlocking the scale of investment required will depend on stronger participation from private capital and development finance partners.
“Access to finance is a major constraint for farmers across Nigeria, significantly limiting productivity across the sector. Despite the prevalence of credit schemes across the country, total credit accessible by farmers is still significantly limited, reaching N3.4 trillion, as of April 2025. Whilst this value may look significant, it is less than 4% of the contribution of agriculture to the country’s GDP.”
Kyari disclosed that the Federal Government had taken steps to address the challenges, including the declaration of a national state of emergency on food security by President Bola Tinubu in July 2023.
He added that the inauguration of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit by Vice President Kashim Shettima is aimed at ensuring the coordination of interventions across all levels of government.
The minister further listed key initiatives introduced by the government, including the distribution of solar-powered irrigation pumps to smallholder farmers, the development of climate-resilient seed systems, and the National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, which has procured 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 farm implements.
Other programmes include the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme, designed to modernise post-harvest handling and storage systems, and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones initiative, aimed at boosting value addition and market access.
Kyari noted that institutions such as the Bank of Agriculture, the Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund, and the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation are being strengthened to attract private investment and reduce risks in the sector.
He added that the National Agricultural Land Development Authority is also undergoing restructuring to support large-scale agricultural investments, while the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service is being enhanced to improve standards and facilitate international trade.
The minister identified key investment opportunities in irrigation technologies, mechanisation, seed development, cold storage, agro-processing, and agricultural logistics.
He assured investors of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for sustainable agricultural growth and value chain development.
“Let me reaffirm the Nigerian government’s commitment to providing an enabling policy environment. We have prioritised climate action within our Nationally Determined Contributions and have embedded climate resilience into the Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
“Through initiatives like the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy, we are fostering private sector participation, supporting climate-smart agribusinesses, and strengthening land tenure security”.
Kyari urged United Kingdom investors to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s agriculture sector through joint investment platforms and innovative financing structures aligned with global-sustainability standards.
He emphasised that Nigeria has the potential, market size, and policy direction to drive agricultural transformation, while calling for stronger collaboration to build resilient food systems globally.
Active journalism costs huge sums of money. To ensure quality and rich agricultural journalism, the support of readers and friends of the publication is required. Donations can be made in Nigerian Naira (NGN). Kindly provide relevant information during transactions and be assured that funds received will be used judiciously and appropriately. For donation to FarmingFarmersFarms, kindly click the link below, call or send message to: +2348095451987.