The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has that private sector participation in the agricultural ecosystem would drive investment, innovation, and inclusive growth.
The Minister made this known during the courtesy visit by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) delegation led by FAO Chief for the Investment Centre in West and Central Africa, Alessandro Marini, held at the Ministry’s Conference Room, Abuja, recently.
Kyari stated that the federal government would provide an enabling environment by establishing clear-cut policies, regulatory frameworks, and an overall stable business climate that incentivizes private investment and mitigates risk.
He stated that ‘’during previous meetings, we presented some key partners and highlighted shared belief that the private sector is the primary engine of growth. You agreed that the focus of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) investment should be on strengthening private sector participation’’.
He added that ‘’this meeting will provide an opportunity for you to hear directly from directors of departments and technical teams, as well as private sector partners, so that you can gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities across value chains. We also have with us the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, a three year old institution designed to support agricultural financing and innovation’’.
He stressed that ‘’we discussed several priority areas for investment and explored potential partnerships that can deliver measurable impact. As a government, we stand fully ready to support your next steps and work with you to advance shared objectives’’.
He pointed out that ‘’We are encouraged that the FAO Investment Centre, working in partnership with EBRD, has also expanded its footprint by opening an office in Lagos earlier this year’’.
The Minister advised that ‘’ it would have been even more insightful for you to visit some of production sites across the country, where you can see firsthand the scale and diversity of agricultural activity, from staple crops to livestock and more.
He revealed that ‘’the visit also aligns strongly with the directive given to us by the President, who has mandated that we take full responsibility for strengthening Nigeria’s food systems and building a pathway towards food sovereignty.
He noted that ‘’Nigeria remains one of the most promising agricultural markets, with immense potential supported by a young, rapidly growing population. We are currently around 232 million people, and the World Bank projects that we will reach 400 million by 2050. That is only 25 years from now, a period that will pass quickly, just as the year 2000 feels like yesterday, the urgency is clear’’.
In his remarks, the FAO Chief for the Investment Centre in West and Central Africa, Alessandro Marini, stated that organization would work assiduously with the federal government to unlock Nigeria’s agribusiness investment in line with government’s economic diversification policy.
Signed
Ezeaja Ikemefuna
Head, Department of Information
2/12/2025
