The federal government has restated commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector into a thriving agribusiness hub.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari stated this at the Presidential Roundtable on Agribusiness held in Abuja.
Kyari highlighted the government’s vision to move beyond subsistence farming, focusing on developing a robust agribusiness ecosystem that will empower farmers and foster private sector-led growth.
He explained that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, agriculture has been elevated to a vital economic sector, with the declaration of a state of emergency on agriculture seen as a call to action.
While stressing the importance of a structured agribusiness sector to ensure national stability and social prosperity, the minister pointed the abundant agricultural potential in Nigeria, citing the country’s vast arable land, favourable climate, and youthful entrepreneurial population.
He said with a domestic market of over 200 million consumers and access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Nigeria stands as an attractive destination for agribusiness investment.
The minister further discussed Nigeria’s strategic partnerships with international development institutions such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
On his part, the President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Arch Kabir Ibrahim, reiterated the private sector’s commitment to supporting the government’s agribusiness goals.
He pointed to the importance of mechanisation, year-round farming and access to credit through the Bank of Agriculture as key drivers of the sector’s growth.