Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agribusiness and food systems have called for stronger linkages between agriculture, industry, and markets to unlock value chains, enhance food security, and accelerate sustainable economic growth.
They made the call on Thursday in Lagos through a communiqué issued after the American Business Council (ABC) event themed “Galvanizing Transformation: Integrating Agriculture, Industry, and Markets for Sustainable Growth.”
Mr. Foluso Alabi, Country Team Lead for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), emphasized the need for sustained efforts toward achieving food and nutrition security as a pathway to improved health, productivity, and economic performance.
Alabi noted that adequate nutrition enhances cognitive function, reduces absenteeism, and strengthens the labour force, thereby boosting economic output.
He explained that while food security focuses on availability, nutrition security highlights the quality and balance of nutrients consumed. He pointed out that Nigeria still faces a significant protein consumption gap.
Through initiatives such as the Right to Protein campaign, Alabi said USSEC is working to raise awareness about protein intake, advocate for supportive policies, and promote collaborations that improve access to protein-rich foods.
“A 10 per cent increase in food availability could result in a one to two per cent rise in GDP growth while reducing poverty and inequality,” he stated.
He added that USSEC’s flagship Nigeria: NOW forum would continue to bring together stakeholders to drive innovation and investment across the food and nutrition value chain.
Mr. Macdonald Ukah, Lead of Economic Intelligence Function at Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc, stressed the need to connect agriculture with industrial processing and markets to unlock value, boost productivity, and strengthen food security.
Ukah noted that agriculture contributed about 28 per cent to Nigeria’s real GDP in 2024, highlighting its importance as a livelihood source for millions of rural households.
“Given Nigeria’s vast arable land and diverse agro-ecological zones, agriculture remains the most accessible form of economic activity for most Nigerians,” he said.
He described smallholder farmers as the backbone of the sector, noting that efforts to transform agriculture must focus on enhancing their productivity.
“Our approach is to industrialize value chains—such as maize, soybean, and cassava—by closing yield gaps and reducing post-harvest losses to ensure a steady supply of raw materials,” Ukah said.
Citing maize as an example, he explained that Nigeria currently produces an average of two tonnes per hectare—less than half the global average. Doubling the yield to four tonnes, he said, could meet domestic demand and create export surpluses under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Ukah said achieving such yield transformation requires investment in high-quality seeds, fertilizers, mechanisation, indigenous research, and trained extension workers to promote best agronomic practices.
He also called for targeted industrial policies to stimulate agro-processing through fiscal incentives, affordable financing, and the establishment of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs).
On market development, Ukah underscored the importance of efficient commodity exchanges to link farmers with processors, stabilize prices, and reduce post-harvest losses.
He identified inadequate storage facilities as a major bottleneck, noting that while Nigeria produces between 30 and 33 million metric tonnes of grains annually, its total silo capacity is only about 1.5 million tonnes.
Ukah further advocated the creation of a national food systems data dashboard and early warning mechanism to bridge information gaps and support evidence-based planning.
He reaffirmed FMN’s commitment to building resilient value chains and promoting sustainable growth through agriculture-led industrialization.
Mrs. Nneka Enwereji, President of the American Business Council, described the event’s theme as timely and relevant, noting that Nigeria stands at an inflection point with vast agricultural potential, a growing industrial base, and one of Africa’s largest consumer markets.
Enwereji said the real opportunity lies in effectively linking these strengths to achieve sustainable economic transformation.
“When agriculture, industry, and markets move in alignment, transformation—rather than incremental growth—becomes possible,” she said.
