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By Chinyere Anyanwu and Okwe Obi, Abuja
Worried by the spate of insecurity and poor agricultural produce, the Federal Government, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) and the
Arzikin Noma, have rolled out fresh strategies to scale up greenhouse farming and drive sustainable soil revival initiatives.
The effort is part of a wider push to strengthen food security and promote climate-smart agriculture.
However, the government further identified climate change, limited access to farm inputs, post-harvest losses, funding gaps in the face of rising input costs, and low mechanisation as some of the problems bedevilling the food sector.
But with the greenhouse initiative, the government said the scheme would reduce movement of farmers to far distances and curb farmers-herders’ clashes.
The government said it remained committed to its quest to boost food production and to ensure that appropriate fertiliser and other inputs are applied on farms to ensure that adequate yield is produced.
The Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) Cornelius Adebayo, who addressed journalists recently explained that the project was approved by President Bola Tinubu, to end Nigeria’s over reliance on seasonal vegetable farming and bridge distribution gaps that contribute to food shortages and high prices.
Adebayo said the project includes the establishment of three temperature-controlled high-tech greenhouses in strategic locations nationwide, alongside net-house greenhouses in Abuja and Ogun.
He disclosed that NALDA built 20 units and a nursery, while 30 units with a nursery are being set up in Shagamu, Ogun, adding that each site is equipped with packing houses, cold storage facilities, and solar-powered energy systems to ensure efficient operations.
He said: “The greenhouse project is in three phases because we realised that one of the major problems we have with vegetables is that we depend too much on seasonal production.
“We approached Mr President for approval, which he graciously gave, for mega high-tech greenhouses across the country.”
He further explained that the clusters will make fresh vegetables available closer to consumers in major cities like Abuja and Lagos, thereby reducing transport costs and post-harvest losses.
He noted that young farmers will manage the facilities, with each youth allocated two net houses to run as independent agripreneurs under NALDA’s supervision.
He said: “Most of these facilities will be handed over to young people who understand how to run them. The idea is to engage youth productively while ensuring food availability.
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“NALDA is also targeting women farmers through open-field vegetable cultivation. Under the second phase, the Authority plans to develop at least 10 hectares of open-field vegetable farms per federal constituency, with 100 women farmers per site growing pepper, tomatoes, and greens.
“We are providing land clearing, irrigation, packing houses, and cold storage to support them. The 16 pilot locations, including Cross River, Taraba, Plateau, and Gombe, are already undergoing land preparation and irrigation works.
“The Abuja greenhouse farm is expected to become fully operational by December 2025, while other sites will follow in early 2026. NALDA has begun enlisting farmers to manage the structures and will monitor compliance with global best practices.
Addressing concerns about greenhouse safety, Adebayo clarified that the technology is safe and organic.
“It’s just atmospheric condition control, very safe and cleaner. Plants simply need the right environment to thrive, and that’s what we’re providing.
“Government is not in the business of business; our job is to create the environment for business to thrive.”
He clarified that “each of the first 20 greenhouses in Abuja will be managed by 10 young farmers, with plans to expand to 50 units each in Abuja and Shagamu. NALDA is also urging state governments and communities to allocate more land for expansion.”
On his part, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Abdullahi Sabi, said the government had developed short-term plans to make farm inputs more accessible and affordable.
“We are supporting smallholder farmers in all the states of the federation and FCT with vital farm implements and inputs.
“These will be provided at no cost to farmers, and distributed through Agricultural Commodity Associations, Farmers Cooperative Groups, Internally Displaced Persons, women, and youths as well as farmers with special needs.
“The essential inputs are part of our commitment to boosting food production and enhancing farmers’ productivity throughout the country,” he said.
On his part, Group Managing Director of Arzikin Noma, Michael Adeshola, lauded President Tinubu for his foresight and commitment to transforming agriculture into a viable, youth-driven enterprise.
He said: “This partnership is the big one that will transform Nigeria’s food system. With NALDA’s mandate to open over 10 million hectares in 10 years, Nigeria is closer than ever to achieving food sovereignty.”
He added that the collaboration between government, private investors, and development partners would promote climate-smart agriculture, create jobs, reduce rural-urban migration, and make Nigeria a food hub for Africa.
“Before now, multinationals imported up to 70% of their raw materials. With partnerships like this, we have reduced that gap to about 30%, and soon, Nigeria will not just feed itself but export to other African countries,” Adeshola affirmed.
