Food Security: What we provide alone can’t meet needs of Nigeria’s agricultural sector – FG

The Federal Government has said that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation would require far more capital than it alone could provide.

The government emphasised the need to encourage private sector investment in Nigeria’s agricultural domain, through a blended finance framework aimed at mitigating risks associated with agribusiness investments.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Tuesday, Mohammed A. Ibrahim, the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, said, “Agriculture is fundamental to Nigeria’s food security, job creation, industrial development, export capabilities, and overall prosperity.

“Relying solely on public capital will not suffice to finance the transformation of Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Similarly, private capital will not be mobilised at the necessary scale unless the associated risks are comprehensively understood, appropriately allocated, and effectively managed.”

Ibrahim noted that discussions with stakeholders in 2025 highlighted that, although there are substantial pools of capital available within the financial system, including development finance and concessional funding, the actual investment in agribusiness remains constrained due to issues related to risk assessment, investment structuring, and alignment with agricultural value chains.

He stated that the government’s long-term objective is to create a structured marketplace where capital providers, agribusiness operators, technical experts, and risk-sharing institutions can collaborate more efficiently.