Agriculture
Fertiliser Production: FG To Encourage Direct Foreign Investment
The Federal Government is to encourage direct foreign investment in fertiliser production from the D-8 countries, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, said.
Adesina stated this in Abuja yesterday at a two-day D-8 private sector investment workshop on Gene Bank Development and Management and Investment in fertiliser production.
Reports say that the D-8 is an organisation for cooperation among eight developing countries of the world.
They include Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
Represented by Director, Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA), Mr Chris Ene, the minister said that efforts were being made to improve digitisation of soil maps that would provide nutrient levels of different soils.
He observed that this would develop appropriate recommendations that would be both soil and crop specific throughout the country.
“However, considering that this workshop is focusing on seeds and fertiliser, it is, therefore, imperative to bring to the fore what government is doing in the two sub-sectors.’’
Adesina explained that the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme was a vital component of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), which would address parts of the agricultural input value chain.
He added that the GES had moved away from flat subsidy to targeted support and would reach about 20 million farmers.
The minister noted that government was also paying adequate attention to seed and fertiliser distribution and marketing.
He said that government had extended financial incentives to agro-dealers by providing them with bank facilities at reduced interest rate of seven per cent, and 70 per cent guarantee on the loan, principal under the ATA policy.
Our source also reports that the three priority areas of the D-8 meeting include the production and supply of good quality fertilisers.
Others are the production and supply of animal feed and the creation of seed banks to supply high quality seeds.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, said that President Goodluck Jonathan had promised to increase the tempo of activities that would foster economic cooperation among D-8 countries.
He explained that participants are expected to have the opportunity to discuss on best strategies to mobilise private sector investment in critical areas of gene bank development and fertiliser production.
In his remarks, Mr Ezekiel Oyemomi, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that the workshop would allow member countries to share experiences and evolve common development strategies.
Represented by Mr Akinbolawa Osho, Director of Fertiliser of the ministry, Oyemomi told participants that Nigeria had enormous plant genetic and fertiliser resources for investment in gene bank development and fertiliser production.
He added that this had informed the growing advocacy by the present administration on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) to the development of agriculture to support the economy.
Issues to be discussed at the meeting, he said, are the extent of implementation of D-8 Roadmap (2008-2018) on fertiliser and it would also examine trends in fertiliser demand and supply in member countries.
Others include considering the establishment of common financing mechanisms for fertiliser production and also considering energy, environmental safety and products stewardship issues.
The President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, has called for urgent agricultural reforms and stronger support for farmers to improve food security in the country.
Uwaleke made the call in an interview with Newsmen Wednesday while reacting to the United Nations projection that millions of Nigerians could face acute hunger in the coming months.
The United Nations Humanitarian Country Team had warned that about 35 million Nigerians could face acute food insecurity between June and August.
According to the organisation, nearly one in seven Nigerians may experience severe food shortages during the 2026 lean season.
Uwaleke said the projection underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to strengthen its food production systems and address factors driving food insecurity.
“The warning should be taken seriously because it reflects the difficult realities many Nigerians are already experiencing, especially vulnerable households.
“A projection of about 35 million people facing acute hunger is disturbing for a country with enormous agricultural potential,” he said.
He attributed worsening food insecurity to inflation, insecurity in farming communities, climate-related challenges, naira depreciation and high transportation costs.
According to him, the combined effects of fuel subsidy removal and declining purchasing power have further reduced access to food for many Nigerians.
Uwaleke said the situation required immediate and coordinated interventions to prevent a deeper humanitarian crisis.
“The lean season is usually difficult, but the scale being projected by the United Nations suggests the need for urgent action from both government and development partners,” he said.
He acknowledged recent government measures aimed at improving food supply, including food imports and tariff reductions on selected commodities such as rice and palm oil.
He, however, said the interventions might not yield the desired results without stronger investments in local agricultural production and improved security for farmers.
“I believe the government has made efforts to address the situation, particularly through policies aimed at boosting food availability.
However, insecurity continues to disrupt farming activities in major food-producing areas, while inflation and weak purchasing power remain major concerns for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
Uwaleke urged the Federal Government to increase support for farmers through subsidies on fertilisers, improved seedlings and other agricultural inputs ahead of the peak farming season.
He also stressed the need to improve security in farming communities to enable displaced farmers to return safely to their farms.
According to him, targeted food distribution programmes should be expanded to support vulnerable households across the country
Uwaleke further called for long-term investments in irrigation, mechanisation, storage facilities, rural infrastructure and agricultural research to strengthen food security.
He added that food security should be treated as both an economic and national security priority requiring sustained policy implementation and adequate funding.
Agriculture
Livestock Minister Reaffirms Commitment To Integrating Apiculture Development Into NL-GAS
The Minister made this known in a keynote address at the World Bee Day 2026 celebration, held in Abuja, where he emphasised that the livestock value chain can be significantly transformed through targeted investments, innovation, private sector participation, youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, said the Ministry remains committed to strengthening interventions aimed at improving the apiculture subsector, promoting sustainable beekeeping practices, enhancing production standards, expanding market access, and protecting pollinator habitats across the country.
The Director of Ruminants and Monogastric, Mr. Victor Egbon, representshe also commended the Youth for Agriculture Initiative (YFAI) for its sustained partnership and commitment to the annual commemoration of World Bee Day.
In a goodwill message, the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Osas Isokponomu, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting policies and programmes that promote value addition, industrialisation, export competitiveness, and market integration within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Earlier in his opening address, the President of the Youth for Apiculture Initiative (YFAI), Mr. Kingsley Nwagwu, called for the establishment of a National Apiculture Policy as a foundation for unlocking Nigeria’s emerging apiculture economy.
Participants at the event were drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, stakeholders, students, academia, research institutions, and development partners.
According to a statement, President of the AFBTE, Chinedum Okereke, gave the warning during the association’s 47th Annual General Meeting held recently in Lagos.
He stated that the food and beverage industry remained a critical pillar of the Nigerian economy because of its significant contributions to employment, public health, and economic growth, adding that government policies should support the sector rather than weaken it.
Okereke noted that many companies in the industry are struggling with rising operational costs and multiple taxes and charges imposed by government agencies without adequate consultation.
“The food and beverage sector remains a major player in the Nigerian economy in terms of its criticality to the financial and physical health of the nation, as well as the well-being of the people. Government support is therefore imperative,” Okereke said.
He added that the relationship between government institutions and businesses should be driven by collaboration, dialogue, and fairness to create a sustainable business environment.
The AFBTE chief also renewed the association’s opposition to the proposed ban on the packaging and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small PET bottles, warning that the policy could worsen unemployment, reduce investment, and shrink government revenue.
“We are in the age of data and analytics Policies that affect businesses and livelihoods should be evidence-based,” Okereke said.
He noted that the industry had repeatedly demanded empirical evidence and statistical data to justify the proposed ban but claimed relevant authorities had yet to provide such information.
The AFBTE president further appealed to the Federal Government to introduce incentives and relief packages for manufacturers battling rising production costs, foreign exchange challenges and infrastructure deficits.
He also advocated the creation of more Free Trade Zones through the upgrade of existing industrial clusters, especially for long-established companies that have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic development but now face disadvantages compared to firms operating within free trade zones.
He observed that the absence of dialogue between the government and the private sector often creates avoidable disputes and weakens investor confidence.
Okereke added that the objectives of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council should remain a guiding principle for regulators and government agencies in promoting ease of doing business in the country.
Meanwhile, the Treasurer of AFBTE, Osaro Omogiade, disclosed that the association recorded a total income of N165.45m for the 2025 financial year, representing a 10.13 per cent increase from the N150.24m generated in 2024.
He attributed the increase largely to improved returns on investments in the money market through Stanbic IBTC and United Capital.
Omogiade, however, noted that the association’s expenditure rose by 14.22 per cent to N138.25m due to the increasing cost of running its secretariat, leaving a surplus of N27.21m compared to N29.19m recorded in the previous year.
