Nigeria has deepened its collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization Investment Centre and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as both institutions begin a December mission aimed at accelerating agricultural investment across the country. The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari CON, received the delegation led by Alessandro Marini, FAO Chief for the Investment Centre in West and Central Africa, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
In his remarks, the Minister praised what he described as one of the fastest follow-ups the Ministry has seen, noting that the mission comes barely five weeks after their last engagement in Rome during the 2025 World Food Forum. He said, This level of commitment reflects the seriousness with which you approach the work ahead. This visit marks the third high-level engagement between Nigeria and the FAO Investment Centre since discussions began at the 2024 World Food Forum and includes first-time visits by FAO Programme Officer Tofiq Braimah and Program Specialist Basheer Jaafaru Ishaq.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s shared stance with FAO and EBRD, the Minister stressed that private sector participation remains the engine of agricultural growth while government continues to create the enabling environment through supportive policies. He highlighted FAO’s engagements with Nigerian value chain actors, including Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu, who maintains investments in agritourism, fertiliser blending, poultry, crop production, and livestock.
The Minister said the visit aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s directive to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems and move the country toward food sovereignty. He described Nigeria as one of the most promising agricultural markets, referencing the World Bank’s projection that the nation’s population could reach 400 million by 2050. He said, The urgency is clear. He also acknowledged the FAO Investment Centre’s expanding footprint, including the recent opening of a new office in Lagos.
The meeting created room for the visiting team to engage with directors, technical departments, and private sector partners across Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem. Also present was the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, which was set up to support innovative agricultural financing.
The Minister encouraged the delegation to explore Nigeria’s diverse production sites during future visits to better understand the depth and scale of agricultural activity. The session ended with contributions from ministry officials and private sector stakeholders as Nigeria positions itself for expanded investment and partnership opportunities.
