The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has unveiled the 2025 Nigeria Food and Agriculture Policy Monitoring Review (PMR), a data-driven initiative designed to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and guide the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The launch in Abuja brought together senior government officials, development partners, private sector leaders, farmer organisations, civil society, and academia, marking what stakeholders described as a turning point in aligning Nigeria’s agricultural policies with the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the review would provide a credible basis for shaping government expenditure and resource allocation, especially as preparations for the 2026 national budget gather pace. “We must secure our future through food security. Increasing yields and improving nutrition are central to our agenda. The MAFAP analysis provides policymakers and development partners with a clear direction for targeted investments and impactful reforms,” he noted.
FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, described the review as a reflection of a shared commitment to agricultural transformation. “The evidence and recommendations presented will serve as a foundation for inclusive growth, improved food security, and sustainable development,” he said.
The report, developed under FAO’s Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme, highlights trends in agricultural spending, trade policies, and commodity incentives.
However, findings show that while nominal agricultural expenditure rose between 2015 and 2021, it accounted for only 2 per cent of federal spending, far below the 10 per cent target set in the 2025 Kampala Declaration.
It also noted that rice production has benefited from protective trade measures, while crops like maize and sorghum face persistent disincentives due to restrictive trade policies. Export commodities such as cocoa and cashew continue to struggle with quality issues, logistics bottlenecks, and currency challenges.
FAO’s Deputy Director of Agrifood Economics and Policy, Dr Marco Sanchez, who led the review team, underscored that the PMR’s recommendations, including optimising spending, strengthening value chains, improving trade policies, and streamlining export systems, provide a roadmap for unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
“By reinforcing policy coherence and investment planning, the PMR is expected to help Nigeria boost productivity, reduce import dependency, and expand agro-exports.”
Meanwhile, stakeholders have agreed that success in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation will have a ripple effect on food security and economic development across Africa.
