Vice-President Kashim Shettima has announced fresh incentives aimed at transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector, with a target to lift 35 million citizens out of poverty and create 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities.
Shettima made the announcement in Abuja during the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) National and Subregional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum on Tuesday.
He explained that the reforms will introduce single-window platforms for land registration, strengthen agricultural credit systems, expand irrigation infrastructure, and scale up mechanisation to unlock the country’s food production potential.
“Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with you,” Shettima said. “Let us work hand-in-hand to build a Nigeria and a subregion where no one goes to bed hungry, where rural communities are hubs of wealth creation, and where agriculture is the true foundation of our prosperity.”
Policy Blueprint
The Vice-President noted that the agricultural policy blueprint, as set out in the National Development Plan (2021–2025), is designed to secure national food sufficiency while creating millions of jobs.
“This blueprint seeks to lift 35 million Nigerians out of poverty, create 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities, and ensure national food and nutrition sufficiency through deliberate and strategic investments in agriculture,” he stated.
Hunger as Security Threat
Shettima described hunger as a global security issue, stressing the importance of urgent action. He emphasised mechanisation, irrigation, and stronger credit systems as key drivers of agricultural growth.
“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks,” he said, adding that less than 10% of Nigeria’s three million hectares of irrigable land is currently in use.
Global and Local Support
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, highlighted Nigeria’s domestic market, arable land, and digital economy as opportunities for agribusiness. Similarly, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, stressed that irrigation remains central to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Gambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr Demba Sabally, praised Nigeria’s progress in rice and cassava production, urging regional peer-review mechanisms for shared learning.
FAO’s Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, described the Hand-in-Hand Initiative as an evidence-based programme designed to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development.
He commended Nigeria’s agricultural priorities and lauded Shettima’s leadership in driving food security across the subregion.
