Business

Harnessing Nigeria, Singapore’s Business Opportunities

Published

10 years ago

August 5, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari and President of Singapore, Tony Tan

Analysts observe
that Nigeria and Singapore have sustained cordial relations since their independence.
They note that the two countries have, on many occasions at international fora, supported each other on developments, especially on trade and investments.
For instance, Mr John Bassey, an economist, said the volume of trade volume between the two countries had grown tremendously since the establishment of the Nigerian Diplomatic Mission in Singapore in 2000.
He noted further that with the deployment of a non-resident Singapore High Commissioner to Nigeria in 2007, the trade volume rose to more than N50 billion in 2014.
To further consolidate the relations between the two countries, the Nigeria High Commission will host the Nigeria-Singapore Business and Investment Forum (NSBIF) in Singapore between Aug. 4 and August 5
The forum, which is the second edition, is expected to attract high profile individuals, resource business persons and top business establishments from countries, featuring several presentations, panel discussions and bilateral meetings.
Economic experts hold the belief that the forum will provide a good opportunity for Nigeria to present its investment opportunities to Singapore’s prospective investors as a follow-up to the success of the first forum in 2013.
Bassey observed that both countries had a lot to gain from the forum in terms of business and investment opportunities.
He noted that the forum would bring together both public and private sector officials to explore business and investment opportunities.
Sharing similar sentiments, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Singapore, Ms Nonye Rajis-Okpara, said Nigeria would benefit tremendously from the forum.
“After taking into consideration the success of the forum in 2013, we felt that it makes more sense to keep the momentum going.
“Our host country acknowledges that the NSBIF 2013 was the biggest bilateral event to have taken place in Singapore,’’ she said.
According to her, the forthcoming forum is aimed at further enhancing business and investment opportunities between the two countries.
“Participating Nigerian high level delegates will hold bilateral meetings with their counterparts to better understand the business sectors in Singapore,’’ she said.
Rajis-Okpara said the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment would address the forum on the investment opportunities available in Nigeria and give in-depth analysis of policies to advance Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in Nigeria.
Analysts, therefore, advise that such address by stakeholders in Nigeria business community should be explicit on business opportunities in Nigeria being the gateway country to Africa.
In the light of this, former Gov. Uzor Kalu of Abia, said he made the observation at the 2013 forum in his paper entitled “Nigeria the New Frontier: Unlocking Opportunities in Africa’s Largest Market.’’
According to him, the rate of development in Nigeria is an investment opportunity for Singapore.
“Nigeria has untapped solid mineral deposits, large arable land for agriculture activities, agro-based industries and a large skilled low-cost labour workforce waiting to be tapped,’’ he said.
In the same vein, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Singapore, corroborated Kalu’s view, noting further that Nigeria held the ace in his country’s quest for investment.
He said many Singaporean companies such as Olam, Tolaram and Sea Truck were already in Africa.
He observed that the forum would provide a good platform for the consolidation of business plans between his country and Nigeria.
Irrespective of these views, observers insist that the Federal Government should provide the necessary enabling environment to accelerate the investment relationship between both countries.
Rajis-Okpara, therefore, assured the observers that the Federal Government had been making efforts to provide a good platform for promoting FDIs in Nigeria.
According to her, some of the enabling environment provided is reflected in the agreements signed between the two countries within the last two years.
The envoy noted that the former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, had signed four Memoranda of Understanding with Singapore at the 2013 forum.
She observed that the agreement included laying the legal foundation upon which both countries would collaborate in terms of driving up their trade and investment potential.
Corroborating this, Aganga said that the ministry had set up surveillance team to follow up on all agreements signed between the ministry and foreign countries or foreign corporate organisations.
He also said that both countries would establish a Trade and Investment Council to accelerate the investment relationship between both countries.
“Such council is an institutional framework for working on increasing the level of trade and investment between both countries; that is what it is about,’’ Aganga said.
Similarly, Rajis-Okpara said an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement would be signed between Nigeria and Singapore.
She said that the agreement would seek to ensure non-discrimination, fair and equitable treatment for Nigerian investors and investments in Singapore and vice versa, among other provisions.
The envoy said the signing of the agreements, which would be one of the highpoints of the forum, would provide a face-to-face platform for both Nigerian and Singaporean entrepreneurs to exchange ideas.
She said that the agreement would serve as an impetus to the growing business interest between Nigeria and Singapore.
She further said that the desire by Nigeria to set up a joint commission with Singapore, which would be driven mainly by commerce, would be discussed at the forum.
All in all, economists hold out the belief that with the calibre of participants expected at the NSBIF, the world will appreciate and utilise the Nigeria’s investment opportunities.
Arobani is of the News Agency of Nigeria.

Tiamiyu Arobani

Business

AFAN Unveils Plans To Boost Food Production In 2026

Published

6 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The leadership of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has set the tone for the new year with a renewed focus on food security, unity and long-term growth of the agricultural sector.

The association announced that its General Assembly of Farmers Congress will take place from January 15 to 17, 2026 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries, along Lugbe Airport Road, in the Federal Capital Territory.

The gathering is expected to bring together farmers, policymakers, investors and development partners to shape a fresh direction for Nigerian agriculture.

In a New Year address to members and stakeholders, AFAN president, Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said the congress would provide a strategic forum for reviewing past challenges and outlining practical solutions for the future.

He explained that the event would serve as a rallying point for innovation, collaboration and economic renewal within the sector.

Mudi commended farmers across the country for their determination and hard work, despite years of insecurity, climate-related pressures and economic uncertainty.

According to him, their resilience has kept food production alive and positioned agriculture as a stabilising force in the national economy.

He noted that AFAN intends to build on this strength by resetting agribusiness operations to improve productivity and sustainability.

The AFAN leader appealed to government institutions, private investors and development organisations to deepen their engagement with the association.

He stressed the need for collective action to confront persistent issues such as insecurity in farming communities, climate impacts and market instability.

He also urged members to put aside internal disputes and personal interests, encouraging cooperation and shared responsibility in pursuit of national development.

Mudi outlined key priorities that include increasing food output, expanding support for farmers at the grassroots and strengthening local manufacturing through partnerships with both domestic and international investors adding that reducing dependence on imports remains critical to protecting the economy and creating jobs.

He stated that the upcoming congress will feature the launch of AFAN’s twenty-five-year agricultural mechanisation roadmap, alongside the announcement of new partnerships designed to accelerate growth across the value chain.

Participants, he said wi also have opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange aimed at transforming agriculture into a more competitive and technology-driven sector.

As part of its modernisation drive, AFAN is further encouraging members nationwide to enrol for the newly introduced Digital ID Card.

Mudi said the initiative will improve transparency, ensure proper farmer identification and make it easier to access support programmes and services.

Reaffirming the association’s long-term goal, he said the vision of national food sufficiency by 2030 remains achievable if unity and collaboration are sustained.

He expressed optimism that with collective effort, Nigeria’s agricultural sector can overcome its challenges and deliver a more secure and prosperous future.

Lady Usendi

Business

Industrialism, Agriculture To End Food Imports, ex-AfDB Adviser Tells FG

Published

7 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Former Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation to the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, has urged the Nigerian government to urgently industrialise the agricultural sector as a pathway to food security, economic diversification, and sustainable job creation.

Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka made the call while speaking at the Oyo State Economic Summit held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, during a lecture titled “Industrialising Agriculture for Economic Development and Food Security: Enhancing National Economies and Sub-National Entities.”

He cautioned that despite Nigeria’s vast arable land and its position as a leading global producer of crops such as cassava and yams, the country remains food-deficient and heavily dependent on costly food imports.

He highlighted that Nigeria spends over one trillion naira annually importing wheat, rice, sugar, and fish, a persistent trend that drains foreign exchange, undermines local farmers, weakens industrial competitiveness, and fuels unemployment.

The development economist argued that the solution lay in transforming agriculture from a subsistence activity into a modern, industrial enterprise capable of producing surplus, supporting manufacturing, and driving broad-based economic growth.

He explained that industrialising agriculture does not mean replacing rural communities with factories, but rather empowering farmers with technology, skills, infrastructure, and market access to raise productivity and incomes.

According to Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Nigeria’s low agricultural productivity reflected deeper structural challenges, including weak education systems, limited skills, and inadequate investment in technology and infrastructure.

He noted that countries that successfully transitioned from low-income to middle-income status did so by modernising agriculture alongside industrial development, creating strong linkages between farms, processing industries, and markets.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka highlighted stark yield disparities between Africa and Asia, noting that cereal yields across African countries remain less than a third of those achieved in East Asia.

This gap, he said, explains why African economies struggle to compete globally and why industrialisation efforts have stalled.

Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka outlined key pillars of agricultural industrialisation, including mechanisation, value addition, integrated supply chains, access to finance, improved seed systems, and targeted investment in human and technological capabilities.

He stressed that farms must be treated as “factories without roofs,” capable of feeding into agro-processing, manufacturing, and export industries.

The visiting professor at The Open University in Milton Keynes said the economic benefits of such a transformation would be far-reaching, including reduced dependence on oil, large-scale job creation, significant foreign exchange savings, and stronger national food security.

Drawing lessons from Vietnam, he described how deliberate agricultural modernisation helped transform the Southeast Asian country from a food importer into one of the world’s leading exporters of rice, coffee, cashew, and seafood.

Vietnam’s agribusiness exports, he said, now generate tens of billions of dollars annually and underpin the country’s wider industrial success.

He attributed Vietnam’s success to consistent policies, heavy investment in agro-processing, strong farmer–industry linkages, and the use of special economic zones to drive value addition and export competitiveness.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka noted that similar models are emerging in Nigeria, including in Oyo State, but warned that they require reliable infrastructure, policy stability, and empowered governance to succeed.

The professor called on state governments to prioritise power, roads, and logistics, strengthen agricultural extension services, and create efficient special agro-industrial processing zones that attract major domestic and international investors.

He also urged the private sector to view agriculture as a profitable business frontier rather than a social obligation, noting that Nigeria’s future prosperity depended less on oil and more on harnessing the productive potential of its land and people.

“We are a nation that can feed itself and others, yet we remain food-insecure and overly dependent on imports. This paradox is holding back our economy.”

“Industrialising agriculture does not erase our rural roots; it transforms them into engines of productivity, wealth creation and national development.”

“Subsistence agriculture is both a cause and a consequence of technological backwardness, and no country has reached middle-income status without first modernising its agriculture.”

“A farm must be treated as a factory without a roof, connected to processing, logistics, finance and markets. Vietnam shows that agricultural transformation is not accidental; it is the result of deliberate policies that link farmers to industry and global markets.”

“The seeds of Nigeria’s prosperity are not buried in oil wells; they are sown in the fertile soils of our ecological zones,” he said.

Lady Usendi

Business

Cashew Industry Can Generate $10bn Annually- Association

Published

7 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Dr Ojo Ajanaku, has said Nigeria could earn $10 billion annually from cashew production, with $3 billion coming from cashew sales alone.

Ajanaku made this known during a press conference organised ahead of the 4th National Cashew Day, scheduled to hold from Jan. 22 to Jan. 24 in Abuja, with the the theme: “Unlocking the Full Potential of Nigeria’s Cashew Industry”.

He said that poor export documentation and weak repatriation of proceeds were causing major losses to the Nigerian economy.

“A substantial volume of cashew exported from Nigeria leaves the country without proper export proceeds forms, as exporters allegedly avoid bringing earnings back into the country,” he said.

He said during the last export season alone, Nigeria reportedly exported over 400,000 tonnes of cashew valued at about $700 million.

Ajanaku noted that deliberate investments in production and processing could unlock far greater potentials.

“If Nigeria produces just two million tonnes of cashew annually, which is achievable in less than five years, and sells at an average of $1,500 per tonne, the country would earn about $3 billion yearly,” he said.

He added that beyond raw cashew exports, enormous value lies in processing and by-products such as Cashew Nut Shell Fluid (CNSF) and cashew cake, which are largely wasted locally.

“In Vietnam, cashew cake alone sells for about 95 cents per kilogram, while in Nigeria processors pay to dispose of it as waste,” he noted.

Ajanaku explained that full local processing of cashew and its by-products could generate not less than $10 billion annually for Nigeria while creating thousands of jobs across the value chain.

He stressed that Nigeria has the production capacity, while countries like Vietnam possess advanced processing technology.

The NCAN President further disclosed that the association is strengthening partnerships with key government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, NEXIM Bank, and other agencies to reposition the sector.

He added that a landmark Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Nigeria and Vietnam to facilitate technology transfer and deepen cooperation in cashew processing.

He expressed optimism that with sustained government support and effective regulation, the cashew industry could become a major driver of economic growth, foreign exchange earnings, and industrial development in Nigeria.

“Producing states should be given priority. For example, Kogi State, which has the highest cashew production in the country, has no factory. A lot of potentials can come from Kogi State for the country,” he said.

Also speaking, NCAN National Secretary, Augustine Edieme, said strategic plans are being made to showcase Nigeria’s potentials during the 4th National Cashew Day, which he described as a key opportunity to attract bigger investments and investors into the industry.

“We are not just talking about the cashew seeds. We need to crack the fruit shell and discover the value in cashew shells. Industrialisation of the cashew industry is key to driving the Nigerian economy,” he said.

The representative of the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), Sunday Ojonugwa, pledged that FACAN would optimally support the cashew association to ensure the sector reaches its full potential.

Lady Usendi