From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
In a renewed effort to tackle food insecurity, the Federal Government of Nigeria has strengthened its partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to support agricultural production and improve resilience against global supply disruptions.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga.
The collaboration took a major step forward when the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, alongside the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, met with senior JICA officials in Abuja recently to advance discussions on the Food Security Emergency Loan Support Programme.
Valued at JPY 15 billion (approximately $110 million), the facility is designed to enhance Nigeria’s food production systems and ensure stability in the agricultural sector amid global uncertainties.
“JICA welcomed the government’s commitment to delivery and requested formal clarification on proposed implementation adjustments.
“It was jointly agreed that core production activities would proceed immediately under the existing framework, while additional components, such as aggregation and financing, would be reviewed in line with the original loan agreement.
“This partnership underscores the commitment of both governments to addressing food security challenges and improving the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, while also driving economic growth and development in the country,” the statement added.