Nigeria’s push to strengthen food production will depend increasingly on private sector investment, as the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has reaffirmed that the country’s strongest prospects for agricultural growth lie with private operators.
Kyari stated this in Abuja during a working visit by a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), led by Alessandro Marini, who heads the organisation’s Investment Centre for West and Central Africa.
Kyari said the Federal Government is reshaping the agricultural business landscape to make it more predictable and attractive for investors.
He explained that ongoing policy reforms and clearer regulatory frameworks are aimed at reducing investment risks and encouraging companies willing to commit long-term capital to the sector.
He added that Nigeria’s engagements with institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have strengthened a shared understanding that while development partners provide crucial support, real momentum will come from private sector energy, capital and innovation.
The meeting with the FAO team, he noted, provided an opportunity for senior officials, technical experts and industry stakeholders to assess investment prospects across major crop and livestock value chains.
The minister also highlighted the strategic role of the National Agricultural Development Fund, which he said has been positioned to expand financing and stimulate new ideas within the sector. Discussions with the FAO focused on priority areas capable of delivering measurable impact.
Welcoming the establishment of the FAO Investment Centre’s new Lagos office, Kyari said the expanded presence would enable FAO teams to visit farms and processing hubs, deepening their understanding of Nigeria’s diverse agricultural landscape. He emphasized that the collaboration aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to strengthen the country’s food systems and advance the goal of food sovereignty.
With World Bank projections showing Nigeria’s population could rise from 232 million to 400 million by 2050, Kyari stressed the urgency of sustained investment to meet future food needs.
Marini, in his response, said the FAO is ready to work closely with the Federal Government to catalyse agribusiness investment and support Nigeria’s wider economic diversification efforts.
