My study and understanding of agricultural investment reveal that it is jointly owned by both the North and the South in almost equal and complementary proportions. Therefore, if any region attempts to sabotage agricultural development, it will have a direct and indirect impact.
Agriculture is now a multi-stage business activity within a value chain that includes inputs, mechanization, production, aggregation/warehousing, transportation, processing, and marketing/export. These processes are coordinated by farmers, investors, and experts.
Inputs: This refers to all raw materials used by farmers for food and livestock production. Nitrogen is the most important macronutrient for crop production, largely sourced from urea. The three urea-producing companies in Rivers and Lagos States have a combined production capacity of about 3 million metric tons. At an average price of ₦700,000 per ton, these companies generate over ₦2.2 trillion annually, with about 40% of their sales coming from Northern farmers.
In addition, fertilizer raw materials such as DAP, MOP, MAP, and gas are imported through these states, with a market value exceeding ₦1.5 trillion. Agrochemicals like herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides are also imported through these regions. For livestock, most poultry and fish feed is produced in the South. On the other hand, field production inputs such as NPK fertilizers, seeds, labour, and irrigation—costing trillions of naira—are largely handled in the North.
Mechanization: Tractors, combine harvesters, and power tillers are imported through coastal areas, along with the fuel needed to operate them. These machines are predominantly used in the North for food production.
Production: Animal rearing and crop production—including cereals, legumes, and vegetables—are over 80% carried out in the North. Meanwhile, the South dominates poultry, fish, and most fruit production. These are all multi-trillion-naira industries.
Aggregation/warehousing: Although these businesses are mostly located in the North and create significant employment opportunities for residents, ownership cuts across Northerners, Southerners, and international investors.
Processing: Most rice milling factories are located in the North, while producers of processed foods, infant foods, animal feed, and fish feed are largely based in Southern Nigeria.
Marketing/export: This segment brings together Northerners, Southerners, and foreign investors, and is largely executed through coastal regions. Commodity exchanges such as NCX and AFEX operate in the North, while the Lagos Commodity and Futures Exchange operates in Lagos.
Experts: Both the North and the South have a wealth of experts, including professors and PhD holders in agronomy, botany, plant sciences, livestock production, extension services, agricultural economics, commodity trading, and agricultural engineering.
In summary, the answer to the question of who owns and benefits more from agriculture is clear: it is a shared enterprise. Agriculture belongs to all Nigerians and creates jobs and wealth across both the North and the South.
Nigeria produces about 12 million tons of maize annually, valued at roughly ₦4 trillion; 50 million poultry birds valued at ₦600 billion; and 5 million tons of local rice valued at about ₦5 trillion, among other agricultural outputs. The purpose of this write-up is to urge all Nigerians to support agricultural development for inclusive growth. We must stop undermining the sector through negative policies driven by regional or ethnic sentiments. Inter-regional trade between the North and South within the agricultural value chain is worth trillions of naira.
Ali A. Ali can be reached at ahalson@gmail.com
