The Federal Government has recapitalised the Bank of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion and invested over N200 billion in agricultural interventions to boost food security and empower farmers across Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during a high-level engagement at the weekend, which featured bilateral talks, technical briefings, and an inspection of Nigeria’s national mechanization fleet at the National Agricultural Seed Council in Sheda, Abuja.
Kyari reaffirmed Nigeria’s determination to lead the transformation of food systems across the West African region, describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security in July 2023 as “a major turning point” for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“We have committed over N200 billion to agricultural interventions, distributed 2.15 million bags of fertilizer, and recapitalized the Bank of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion to empower our farmers,” the minister stated.
He also emphasized Nigeria’s readiness to deepen regional cooperation with The Gambia and other ECOWAS countries through joint technical missions and new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). According to Kyari, Nigeria’s agricultural roadmap is built on sustainable mechanization, youth inclusion, food sovereignty, and evidence-based policymaking.
He further highlighted the ongoing development of a national farmer registry in partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), aimed at identifying over 42 million farming households across the country.
The Gambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, Dr. Demba Sabally, praised Nigeria’s strides in agriculture and called for stronger bilateral collaboration, especially in rice production and mechanization.
“We have seen the Nigerian model in action—from outgrower schemes to post-harvest management. Our goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2030 is now more realistic than ever. We request a Rice Ambassador from Nigeria to support our implementation,” Sabally said.
Corroborating, The Gambia’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Nyangado Alhagie, commended Nigeria’s longstanding support across various sectors and described the visit as “transformational,” particularly for The Gambia’s efforts to replicate agricultural systems that can accelerate its food security agenda.
Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, described the visit as a strong testament to African solidarity and proof that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, especially in rice, can serve as a model for other countries.
Highlighting the increasing quality and market acceptance of Nigerian rice, Abdullahi encouraged The Gambia to embrace local solutions and shared progress.
Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, welcomed the delegation and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to mutual learning, technical cooperation, and regional self-reliance in agriculture.