By Kingsley Benson
The Federal Government has revealed a new set of incentives designed to reposition agriculture as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and a reliable driver of job creation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) National and Subregional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Abuja, said that the government’s blueprint aims to create 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities, lift 35 million Nigerians out of poverty, and guarantee food and nutrition security by 2025.
At the heart of the initiative are structural reforms to ease investment and productivity. These include a single-window platform for land registration, expanded agricultural credit systems, irrigation development, and mechanisation.
“Hunger is not just a local challenge-it is a global security threat,” Vice President Shettima said. “Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks. Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with investors who share this vision.”
He explained that Nigeria’s agricultural policies are being redesigned to attract private capital through regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships, and agri-tech innovation.
Presenting Nigeria’s country profile, Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, highlighted the breadth of opportunities across the agribusiness value chain-from crop production and processing to storage and distribution. Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, reinforced the point, describing irrigation and agricultural expansion as crucial levers for economic diversification.
The forum also drew regional and international endorsements. The Gambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, Dr Demba Sabally, lauded Nigeria’s strides in rice and cassava value chains and called for stronger peer review mechanisms among West African nations.
FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, praised Shettima’s leadership, describing the Hand-in-Hand Initiative as a flagship programme for ending hunger and poverty across Africa. Similarly, the Head of the EU Delegation in Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot, reaffirmed Europe’s commitment, pointing to €80 million already invested in value chain development across seven Nigerian states.
With agriculture positioned as the foundation of Nigeria’s growth strategy, stakeholders say the renewed incentives could mark a turning point-if effectively implemented-to unlock the nation’s vast food production potential and secure a sustainable future.
