FG Unveils Reforms to Boost Private Sector Investment in Agriculture, Strengthen Food Security
The Federal Government has announced a set of reforms aimed at increasing private sector participation in Nigeria’s agricultural sector and enhancing food security across the Sahel region.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, outlined the initiatives during a high-level panel discussion at the FAO Hand-in-Hand Sahel Regional Initiative in Rome, Italy.
Kyari said the government is upgrading the National Agrifood System Investment Plan into a National Public–Private Investment Portal — a digital platform designed to showcase viable investment opportunities in mechanisation, irrigation, storage, processing, logistics, and digital agrifood services.
He noted that the reform package includes streamlined investment incentives such as targeted tax and import duty reliefs, as well as risk-sharing facilities developed in collaboration with international development organisations.
To boost agro-industrial growth, the government is expanding the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones from eight to 27 states to provide integrated infrastructure and reduce operational costs for agro-processors.
The Minister also revealed that the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme is being implemented to address postharvest losses estimated at N3.5 trillion annually through improved storage, cold chain, and warehousing systems.
He emphasised that the reforms are anchored on strengthening public–private collaboration, building strong institutions, and promoting innovative financing and governance systems to unlock the potential of farmers, processors, and agribusinesses.
Kyari reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with development partners, including FAO, IFAD, AfDB, the World Bank Group, and ECOWAS, to turn investment pledges into tangible projects that promote food security, create jobs, and drive sustainable economic growth.
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