Nigeria has strengthened its collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Investment Centre and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as both institutions begin a December mission aimed at accelerating agricultural investment across the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, welcomed the visiting delegation led by Alessandro Marini, FAO Chief for the Investment Centre in West and Central Africa, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Read Also: FAO secures $68m in environmental funding for 22 countries
Read Also: FG, states reaffirm joint commitment to food system transformation
In his remarks, the Minister commended the delegation for what he described as one of the fastest follow-ups the Ministry has experienced, noting that the mission comes barely five weeks after their last engagement in Rome during the 2025 World Food Forum.
“This level of commitment reflects the seriousness with which you approach the work ahead,” he said.
This marks the third high-level engagement between Nigeria and the FAO Investment Centre since discussions began at the 2024 World Food Forum. The mission also features first-time visits to Nigeria by FAO Programme Officer Tofiq Braimah and Program Specialist Basheer Jaafaru Ishaq.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s shared stance with FAO and EBRD, the Minister emphasized that private sector participation remains the engine of agricultural growth, while government continues to create the enabling environment through supportive policies.
He highlighted FAO’s engagements with Nigerian value chain actors, including Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu, who maintains investments in agritourism, fertiliser blending, poultry, crop production, and livestock.
The Minister stated that the visit aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s directive to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems and advance the nation toward food sovereignty.
“Nigeria remains one of the most promising agricultural markets,” he said, pointing to the country’s rapidly expanding population—projected by the World Bank to reach 400 million by 2050. “The urgency is clear.”
He also acknowledged the FAO Investment Centre’s growing footprint with the recent establishment of a new office in Lagos.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the visiting team to interact with directors, technical departments, and private sector partners within Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem. Also present was the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), an institution established to support innovative agricultural financing.
The Minister encouraged the delegation to explore Nigeria’s diverse production sites in future visits to fully appreciate the depth and scale of agricultural activities across the country.
The session concluded with contributions from ministry officials and private sector stakeholders as Nigeria positions itself for expanded investment and partnership opportunities.
 Investment Centre and the European Bank for Recon){kind=link}