The Federal Government has unveiled a $3.14 billion agricultural investment plan in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization under the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, a programme aimed at tackling hunger, reducing poverty, and achieving food sovereignty.
The plan, launched at the National Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Abuja, focuses on five high-impact value chains: tomato, cassava, maize, dairy, and fisheries. Officials say the initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, positioning Nigeria to lead regional efforts in food security.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security described the portfolio as one of the most ambitious in recent years, backed by $1.75 billion in government funding and $1.39 billion from the private sector. With an estimated average internal rate of return of 14 per cent, the initiative is expected to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, create jobs, and boost food security.
According to the minister, the investment could increase per capita incomes by as much as \$657 while sequestering over 1.2 million tonnes of carbon—contributing to global climate goals. He noted that more than 4.1 million Nigerians stand to benefit directly and indirectly from the programme.
“These opportunities reflect Nigeria’s leadership in agriculture, the strength of our private sector, and our determination to turn declarations into action,” he said, stressing that the selected value chains were chosen based on evidence of market demand, production potential, climate resilience, and socio-economic impact.
The government sees the initiative as a critical response to food insecurity, malnutrition, and the threats posed by climate shocks. Authorities emphasized that with targeted investment in irrigation, mechanisation, and innovation, the sector can be repositioned as a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth.
At the forum, the Vice-President reinforced government’s commitment to agricultural reforms designed to lift 35 million Nigerians out of poverty and create 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities. Planned reforms include single-window platforms for land registration, stronger agricultural credit systems, expanded irrigation networks, and greater adoption of mechanisation.
Officials say the combination of government commitment, private sector participation, and international partnership provides a bankable framework for transforming Nigeria’s food system. The initiative, they add, signals a shift from policy declarations to practical action, with agriculture at the heart of the country’s economic renewal strategy.
