The Nigerian government is preparing to roll out the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM), a strategic plan designed to increase agricultural productivity, stabilize food prices, and fuel wider economic development. The initiative is a critical part of the country’s broader effort to transform the agricultural sector using data-driven policies and strong public-private partnerships.
Speaking at a Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) Steering Committee meeting in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima underscored the importance of aligning agricultural strategies across federal, state, and local levels through real-time data analytics. He emphasized that state governments will play a central role in executing the plan.
He also reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the Green Imperative Project (GIP), a $1.1 billion partnership between Nigeria and Brazil signed on March 17, 2025. The GIP is set to modernize 774 mid-sized Nigerian farms with Brazilian technology, creating jobs and increasing national productivity. According to the Vice President, the project has moved beyond planning and must now deliver measurable outcomes. “We’ve had several interventions in the past. This time, we must make it work,” he said.
In a related development, President Bola Tinubu has approved ₦15 billion for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to prepare for possible flooding during the 2025 rainy season. Vice President Shettima described this as one of the administration’s first proactive moves to prevent disaster-related food disruptions.
The Executive Secretary of PFSCU and Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture explained that NAPM is designed to address long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s food system, including high food inflation, low crop yields, and inefficient subsidy structures. She noted that Nigeria’s agricultural productivity currently lags 60 percent behind global standards.
A pilot survey for NAPM has already been conducted across 13 states, with the full-scale rollout scheduled for June 2025. Backed by new digital platforms and data partnerships, NAPM will provide a unified framework to guide investment decisions, streamline government spending, and modernize farming practices across the country.
With food insecurity and inflation continuing to affect millions, the launch of NAPM signals a deliberate shift toward evidence-based policymaking that targets the root causes of agricultural underperformance. The initiative also reflects a broader national goal of empowering rural communities, improving food systems, and ensuring that agriculture once again becomes a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic resilience.
