On Tuesday, the federal government introduced new plans to boost farming in Nigeria as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. These plans include easier access to loans, better irrigation systems, and the goal of creating millions of full-time jobs in rural areas.
Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the plans at a major agriculture event in Abuja. He said fighting hunger is a global security issue and called agriculture the key to Nigeria’s progress and success.
Shettima explained that hunger affects everyone equally and shows how fragile we all are. He said food is not just about staying alive—it’s also about keeping the world safe.
He outlined key changes such as making land registration easier, improving farm loans, building more irrigation systems, and encouraging the use of machines to reduce hard manual work on farms.
Shettima said it’s important to help serious investors get land and resources. He also stressed the need to use machines to make farming easier and to improve the loan system so money reaches the right people.
Shettima said Nigeria has enough water to irrigate over three million hectares of farmland, but currently uses less than 10% of it. He believes investing in irrigation could triple food production, allow farming all year round, and help deal with climate changes.
He told investors that Nigeria is ready to do business and asked them to partner with the country to fight hunger, grow rural economies, and make agriculture the main driver of success.
Shettima said the government plans to improve rules, work with private companies, and use new farm technologies to bring more investment into agriculture. Their main goal, under the 2021–2025 National Development Plan, is to reduce poverty for 35 million people and create 21 million full-time rural jobs while ensuring everyone has enough food.
He said the country’s future depends on smart policies, with the National Development Plan leading the way through strong but realistic goals.
Other ministers also spoke at the event. Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari said Nigeria’s large farmland, good weather, growing digital economy, and big market make it a great place for farming businesses to grow.
Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu said farming and irrigation are very important for growing Nigeria’s economy, in line with the national plan and Renewed Hope Agenda.
Leaders from other countries also praised Nigeria. The Gambia’s Agriculture Minister, Demba Sabally, said Nigeria has done well with rice and cassava production and encouraged West African countries to learn from each other.
Hussein Gadain from the FAO talked about their Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which helps poor rural areas grow through smart farming investments. He praised Vice President Shettima for his strong leadership and efforts to improve farming in Nigeria.
Gautier Mignot from the European Union said the EU supports Nigeria and is investing 80 million euros in farming projects across seven states. He said the EU is committed to working closely with Nigeria, especially in using irrigation to grow the economy.
These new farming plans are part of the government’s larger effort to boost food production, create rural jobs, and attract business into agriculture—making farming a key part of Nigeria’s growth and leadership in the region.
