The Federal Government in its efforts to boost agricultural production in Nigeria is fine-tuning modalities through private sector investments.
With Nigeria’s population projected by the World Bank to rise from 232 million to 400 million by 2050, Kyari said the urgency for sustained investment could not be overstated.
The minister said increased private sector participation remains the strongest driver of growth in the country’s agricultural economy, stressing that new investments and innovation will be critical to improving productivity across value chains.
Kyari made this known in Abuja during a visit by a delegation of the Food and Agriculture Organisation led by Alessandro Marini, Chief for the Investment Centre in West and Central Africa.
He said the Federal Government is working to create a stable and predictable business environment through clear policies and regulatory frameworks that can reduce investor risk and incentivise long term capital inflows.
Kyari said previous engagements with development partners including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development underscored a shared understanding that the private sector is the primary engine of growth.
He added that the meeting offered an avenue for FAO to interface directly with directors and technical teams as well as private operators to gain deeper insight into opportunities in crop and livestock value chains.
He noted the presence of the National Agricultural Development Fund established to enhance agricultural finance and innovation and said discussions with partners focused on priority areas that can deliver measurable impact.
Kyari welcomed the expanded footprint of the FAO investment centre which opened an office in Lagos earlier this year, adding that visits to production sites nationwide would expose partners to the scale of activity taking place across staples and livestock.
He said the engagement aligns with the directive of President Bola Tinubu who mandated the Ministry to strengthen food systems and chart a path towards food sovereignty.
Alessandro Marini however said the organisation would work closely with the Federal Government to unlock agribusiness investment in line with the country’s economic diversification agenda.
By Simeon Shodimu
