ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) says investing N15 billion in strategic areas of agriculture could generate over N100 billion in additional Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for individual states.
Mr. Azubike Nwokoye, Food Systems Specialist at ActionAid Nigeria, made the disclosure during his presentation at the Technical Session of the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) on Tuesday in Kaduna.
The presentation, titled “Political Economy Analysis on Agriculture Budget Investments: Resultant Effects on States’ IGR and Employment Generation for 2025,” focused on how targeted agricultural funding can stimulate revenue and reduce unemployment.
The 2025 NCAFS theme is “Food Sovereignty and Food Security: An Era of Renewed Hope.”
Nwokoye explained that increased funding in areas such as post-harvest loss reduction, irrigation, labour-saving technologies, women and youth in agriculture, and extension services can boost states’ IGR while creating employment opportunities.
He stressed that while increased funding is critical, its impact on unemployment depends on how effectively it interacts with other economic and structural factors.
“Budgetary allocations and capital expenditure should focus on strategic investments, including extension services, access to credit, women and youth empowerment in agriculture, and appropriate labour-saving technology,” Nwokoye said.
He added that support should extend to processing and storage facilities, training programs, market access, climate-resilient sustainable agriculture (CRSA), irrigation, research and development, monitoring, and coordination.
ActionAid’s analysis assessed the potential effect of agricultural investment on IGR across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Nwokoye noted that the analysis helps state governments, policymakers, and governors view agriculture not as an expense, but as a revenue-generating investment that can also reduce poverty and unemployment.
He cited examples: Gombe State, with a projected 2025 IGR of N25.6 billion, could generate an additional N112.98 billion with targeted agricultural investment. Osun State, with a projected IGR of N109.87 billion, could see an additional N114.08 billion under the same scenario.
Nwokoye urged governors to prioritize agriculture as a key investment sector rather than merely a line item in the budget.
