Nigeria has moved closer to large-scale agro-industrial transformation as the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA) and Amisec Industrial Company Limited signed a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) to develop AgroCity Doma—a climate-smart agricultural hub focused on organic sesame production, processing, and export.
Valued at ₦5 billion for its first phase, the project will be established within the Doma Dam Irrigation Area in Nasarawa State, aiming to convert underutilised irrigation assets into a fully integrated agro-industrial estate.
Under the agreement, LBRBDA will provide 1,000 hectares of irrigable land and access to water from the Doma Dam, while Amisec will handle investment, infrastructure, cultivation, and overall project operations.
Designed as a flagship model for sustainable agriculture, AgroCity Doma will feature a 1,000-hectare mechanised nucleus farm, solar-powered irrigation systems, a 10 MT/hour sesame processing plant, agroforestry buffers, and rural infrastructure. An extensive outgrower programme will also engage over 1,000 local farmers.
Once fully operational, the hub is projected to generate up to $7 million (₦10.8 billion) annually from premium organic sesame exports, creating over 500 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs across farming, processing, logistics, and agro-services.
A hybrid implementation plan will enable farming to begin in the next rainy season while construction of key facilities proceeds. Full-scale processing and export operations are expected to commence by the first quarter of 2027.
At the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of LBRBDA highlighted the project as a reflection of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to productive land use and agro-industrial growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that strategic partnerships like this are vital for expanding food production and job creation.
The CEO of Amisec Industrial confirmed the company’s ₦5 billion investment and reaffirmed plans to build a traceable, export-standard sesame value chain that benefits both local farmers and global buyers. He emphasised Nigeria’s opportunity to capture a significant share of the $4 billion global organic sesame market.
The AgroCity Doma initiative is expected to open new opportunities for agribusiness MSMEs involved in inputs, mechanisation services, aggregation, packaging, logistics, and export processing. With a strong outgrower model, smallholder farmers will gain access to structured markets, technical support, and premium pricing for certified organic produce.
