The Federal Government has launched major agricultural reforms to boost food production and create 21 million jobs.
Vice President Shettima says the plan will drive investment, modernize farming, and fight hunger nationwide.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a set of sweeping agricultural reforms designed to boost food production, attract investment, and create an estimated 21 million jobs across rural communities.
The initiative is a core part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at transforming agriculture into a major driver of economic growth and poverty reduction.
The announcement came during the FAO National and Sub-regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Abuja on Tuesday, where Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized the urgency of tackling hunger as a global security concern.
“Food is not merely a matter of survival; it is a matter of global security. Nothing unifies humanity as much as hunger; it is the great equalizer that exposes our shared fragility,” Shettima said.
The reforms will focus on:
- Single-window platforms for land registration to ease agricultural investment.
- Enhanced agricultural credit systems to improve farmers’ access to financing.
- Mechanization and irrigation projects to boost productivity and reduce seasonal dependency.
- Agri-tech innovations and public-private partnerships to modernize the sector.
Shettima noted that Nigeria has the potential to irrigate over three million hectares of farmland, yet less than 10% of this capacity is currently used.
“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, ensure resilience against climate shocks, and free us from seasonal limitations,” he added.
The Vice President explained that these reforms align with the 2021–2025 National Development Plan, which targets lifting 35 million Nigerians out of poverty, generating 21 million jobs, and achieving long-term food and nutrition security.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari highlighted Nigeria’s vast domestic market, arable land, favorable climate, and growing digital economy as unique opportunities for agribusiness.
Similarly, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, stressed that agriculture remains a cornerstone of Tinubu’s agenda for economic diversification.
Dr. Demba Sabally, Gambia’s Minister of Agriculture, commended Nigeria’s leadership in agricultural transformation, pointing to successes in the rice and cassava value chains as models for the sub-region.
With its renewed focus on irrigation, mechanization, and technology, the government insists Nigeria is “open for business”, urging local and international investors to seize the opportunities in its agricultural sector.
