Nigeria’s Federal Government has committed over ₦200 billion to agricultural programmes and infused an additional ₦1.5 trillion into the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) to support farmers nationwide, announced Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. He made the reveal on Saturday during a high-level engagement at the National Agricultural Seed Council in Sheda, Abuja, where he also led technical briefings and toured the national mechanisation fleet.

Turning Point: Emergency Action on Food Security

Minister Kyari emphasized that this significant investment builds on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s July 2023 declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security, which he described as a pivotal moment reshaping Nigeria’s agricultural future. He detailed the interventions:

• Distributing 2.15 million bags of fertilizer to boost crop yields.

• Recapitalizing the BoA with ₦1.5 trillion, channeling accessible credit to farmers.

This aligns with ongoing government strategies to stabilize food costs, stimulate farm production, and reduce dependence on food imports.

Mechanisation: Fleet on the Ground

During the engagement, Kyari showcased part of 2,000 tractors and 9,000 implements—including ploughs, seeders, harvesters, and sprayers—sourced from Belarus, with 200 tractors already on Nigerian soil. The goal: modernize farming across 109 BoA branch zones, reach smallholder farmers, and accelerate planting cycles through mixed mechanization systems.

Digital Push: Farmer Registry and Youth Inclusion

The Minister announced collaboration between the Ministry and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to build a national farmer registry. This system aims to register over 42 million farming households, providing the backbone for:

• Evidence-based policymaking

• Efficient fertilizer and equipment distribution

• Access to credit and insurance

• Empowerment of youth and women in farming

This data-driven platform reflects Nigeria’s shift from reactive subsidy models to strategic agricultural development.

West African Cooperation: Gambia on Board

Minister Kyari highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to regional food security, announcing technical missions and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with The Gambia and ECOWAS members. This initiative focuses on shared challenges like mechanisation, input supply, and value-chain infrastructure across borders.

The Gambian delegation, led by Minister Dr. Demba Sabally, highly praised Nigeria’s rice initiatives and mechanised farming approach. Dr. Sabally called for support in realizing rice self-sufficiency by 2030, endorsing Nigeria’s out-grower and post-harvest models. He requested a “Rice Ambassador” to advise Gambian implementation teams.

Permanent Secretary Ambassador Nyangado Alhagie described Nigeria’s systems as transformative and replicable, especially in scaling up mechanized agriculture in The Gambia.

Nigerian Success Seen as Continental Template

Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Nigeria’s Agriculture and Food Security Minister of State, praised Nigeria’s agricultural ascendancy—particularly in rice production—as a benchmark for Africa. He championed increased acceptance and quality of locally grown rice as foundational to regional food security.

Permanent Secretary Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi further underlined Nigeria’s willingness to share technical knowledge, reinforce institutional food resilience, and realize self-reliance across West Africa.

Context & Impact

BoA Recapitalisation: Bridging the Credit Gap

The BoA recapitalization effort addresses chronic financing issues in agriculture. Prior to infusion, commercial bank lending to agriculture never exceeded ₦1.04 trillion between 2014–2021. Experts hope that with ₦1.5 trillion, BoA can deliver capital to smallholders who struggled with high interest rates and limited collateral.

Tackling Food Inflation

Nigeria has been grappling with food inflation over 34%, driven by global disruptions and weak domestic output. These investments aim to boost yields, cut imports, and reduce vulnerability in food prices.

Mechanisation and CLIMATE SMART Agriculture

With tractors and combined harvesters deployed, agricultural productivity can rise sharply through mechanised interventions. This mechanisation supports goals of climate resilience by improving sowing, weed control, and post-harvest loss prevention.

Challenges & Outlook

• Credit Disbursement – The success of BoA’s ₦1.5 trillion value depends on timely and fair loans reaching genuine farmers, not bogged down in bureaucracy.

• Adoption of Technology – While equipment has arrived, widespread farmer training and maintenance support will determine actual usage.

• Data Integrity – The farmer registry’s scale makes accuracy and ongoing updates critical.

• Regional Integration – MoUs are steps forward, but implementation success depends on cross-border trust and capacity building.

Why This Matters:

Final Thoughts

Nigeria’s ₦1.7 trillion investment in agriculture represents more than monetary commitment—it signals a comprehensive shift. By aligning finance, mechanisation, data, and regional diplomacy, it aims to institutionalize food security. If effectively implemented, this model could redefine not only Nigeria’s but West Africa’s approach to feeding millions with sustainable, locally-driven production.

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