The Federal Government has rolled out fresh incentives to position agriculture as the engine of Nigeria’s economic revival, targeting 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities while lifting 35 million Nigerians out of poverty through strategic investments in agriculture.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking at the FAO National and Subregional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Abuja, said the new policies will unlock food production potential and create millions of jobs across rural communities.
He explained that reforms will introduce single-window platforms for land registration, expand irrigation infrastructure, strengthen agricultural credit systems, and drive mechanisation. According to him, irrigation alone could triple yields and shield the country from climate shocks.
“Our goal is to make Nigeria a hub of agricultural prosperity. Food is not just survival; it is global security. Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with investors to build a future of abundance.
“The administration’s blueprint targets 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities while lifting 35 million Nigerians out of poverty through strategic investments in agriculture,” Shettima emphasized.
Ministers of Agriculture and Economic Planning, Abubakar Kyari and Atiku Bagudu, reaffirmed that Nigeria’s vast arable land, large domestic market, and growing digital economy present unmatched opportunities for agribusiness.
International partners including the FAO, EU, and regional leaders hailed Nigeria’s renewed focus on irrigation and agribusiness as a model for West Africa’s agricultural transformation.
