The Federal Government has appealed to investors, financial institutions, and development partners in the United Kingdom to support its drive to build a resilient food system, promote climate-smart agriculture, and expand sustainable production across Nigeria.
Speaking at the Nigeria-UK Investment Forum in London, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, outlined the country’s vast agricultural potential, pointing to its diverse agro-ecological zones and strong production capacity.
He noted that Nigeria is well-positioned to competitively produce a wide range of commodities—including rice, maize, cassava, cocoa, sesame, sorghum, and various horticultural crops—many of which are in high demand globally.
Kyari, however, warned that climate change remains a major threat to agricultural productivity and food security, citing challenges such as prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, flooding, and desertification. He stressed the urgent need to adopt climate-resilient farming practices.
According to him, a major hurdle to this transition is the significant financing gap in the sector. While public funding is important, he said attracting private investment and development finance is critical to scaling innovation and building resilient agricultural systems.
He added that access to finance remains a key constraint for Nigerian farmers, noting that although credit schemes exist, total agricultural credit stood at ₦3.4 trillion as of April 2025—less than 4 percent of the sector’s contribution to GDP.
Kyari also highlighted steps taken by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the declaration of a state of emergency on food security in July 2023. He noted that Kashim Shettima later inaugurated the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit to harmonize interventions across all levels of government.
The government, he said, is implementing several initiatives such as distributing solar-powered irrigation pumps to support year-round farming and improve water efficiency.
To further attract investment, Kyari revealed that key institutions—including the Bank of Agriculture, the Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund, and the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation—are being strengthened. The National Agricultural Land Development Authority is also undergoing restructuring to better support large-scale agricultural projects.
He added that efforts are underway to enhance the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service to ensure stricter sanitary standards, improve international trade, and boost investor confidence.
The minister identified key investment opportunities in irrigation, mechanization, improved seed development, cold storage, commodity aggregation, agro-processing, and logistics.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment, Kyari encouraged UK investors to explore partnerships in Nigeria through joint investment platforms, innovative financing models, and sustainable agribusiness initiatives aligned with global ESG standards.
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