Abuja: At independence in 1960, Nigeria was a food-secure nation, thriving as a net exporter of food with a robust agricultural sector that significantly contributed to its GDP. The country was agriculturally self-sufficient, with regional commodity-based policies ensuring adequate food production for its population. Agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, playing a primary role in food security, rural employment, and foreign exchange earnings. Nigeria emerged as a major global agricultural producer and exporter, particularly of cash crops like cocoa, groundnuts, and palm oil, contributing a remarkable 67 percent growth to its GDP between 1960 and 1961.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the country’s agricultural growth experienced a decline starting in the early 1970s due to the oil boom, resulting in a shift of labour and resources away from farming to the urban oil sector. This shift led to a significant drop in agriculture’s contribution to exports and GDP, a trend that persisted under various
administrations. Upon assuming office as President, Bola Tinubu prioritised food security, declaring a state of emergency on food security in July 2023. This marked a transformation in Nigeria’s approach, focusing on practical initiatives to revamp agricultural production, stabilise markets, and improve food access.
Before President Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria faced severe food insecurity, with roughly 66 million Nigerians struggling to access adequate food and nearly 19 million suffering from acute hunger in 2022. Persistent food inflation, terrorism, and climate change-induced floods severely hampered food production and distribution. The country’s reliance on imports like wheat, fish, and dairy was exacerbated by low agricultural mechanisation and ineffective past schemes.
In response to the challenges, the Nigerian government ordered the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains and 60,000 metric tonnes of rice from the National Strategic Grain Reserves to counteract the impact of the fuel
subsidy removal in May 2023, which had led to soaring food and transport costs. This measure helped stabilise supplies and prevented acute shortages across the country. Additionally, the government intensified security measures on farmlands, with the Nigerian military conducting patrols to protect farmers from attacks in conflict-prone states.
One of the Tinubu administration’s most ambitious efforts was partnering with Belarus to acquire 10,000 tractors over five years under the Belarus Agricultural Mechanisation Programme. With 2,000 tractors already delivered, plans are underway to establish local assembly plants and service centres. Complementary initiatives include the Greener Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, a collaboration with South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil to modernise Nigeria’s farming practices and reduce manual methods.
The government also launched the National Agriculture Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket, a digital platform designed to connect farmers directly with suppliers, elimi
nating middlemen and corruption. This initiative aims to ensure timely delivery of improved seeds, fertilisers, and essential inputs to boost agricultural output. Moreover, through the ‘Irrigate Nigeria’ project, the government seeks to enhance irrigation farming using modern systems, while the Ministry of Water Resources is implementing strategic irrigation schemes across key agricultural states.
In 2024, the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development marked a significant reform to address herder-farmer conflicts and underdevelopment in the livestock sub-sector. The National Livestock Master Plan, a comprehensive 15-year strategy, aims to transform the livestock sector into a driver of food security and economic growth.
Looking forward, Nigeria must accelerate agricultural transformation by scaling mechanisation, developing rural infrastructure, and securing farmlands. Strengthening value chains and adopting climate-smart agriculture will be critical to safeguarding farmers from climate shocks and b
oosting the nation’s agricultural potential.