The Federal Government has launched the third National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan (NASIP 2025–2027), a new strategic framework aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening food security, and positioning Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s food economy.
The plan was adopted during a three-day validation workshop on the 2022–2024 Agricultural Joint Sector Review (JSR) and NASIP, convened by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in Abuja.
Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary of FMAFS, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, said the initiative is aligned with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), a continental framework designed to accelerate agricultural growth and economic development.
Ogunbiyi explained that the JSR and NASIP documents would act as a guide for stakeholders—identifying investment opportunities, bridging financial gaps, and shaping interventions from government, private sector players, and development partners.
> “Nigeria has steadily improved in the African Union’s Biennial Review Reports—rising from fourth place in 2017 to third place in 2023. However, significant challenges still remain, and this plan provides the pathway to address them,” Ogunbiyi said.
Key Interventions
He outlined several ongoing government initiatives, including the Renewed Hope Mechanisation Programme, under which 2,000 tractors were deployed to cultivate more than 550,000 hectares of farmland, with a projected yield of over two million metric tons of staple crops.
Other interventions include the N1.5 trillion recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), the establishment of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), and the repositioning of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) to strengthen agrifood systems nationwide.
As part of efforts to domesticate CAADP goals, Ogunbiyi disclosed that an Agricultural Sector Working Group was inaugurated in April 2025 to coordinate implementation of the Kampala Declaration (2026–2035). A 10-year Strategic Action Plan is also in the works to ensure inclusivity and participation of both state and non-state actors.
Calls for Inclusivity
Delivering a goodwill message, ActionAid Nigeria’s Food and Agriculture Programme Advisor, Blessing Akhile, urged the government to prioritise smallholder farmers—particularly women and youth—within the new investment framework.
Similarly, Mr. Ibrahim Tanimu, Director of Planning and Policy Coordination at FMAFS, commended stakeholders for their input and called for sustained collaboration to ensure that the recommendations move beyond policy documents to tangible results.
Looking Ahead
The unveiling of NASIP 2025–2027 marks another milestone in Nigeria’s agrifood policy journey. Analysts say the plan reflects lessons learned from previous phases and highlights the country’s determination to modernise agriculture, reduce reliance on imports, and ensure food sufficiency.
With agriculture employing millions and contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP, experts believe that successful implementation of this framework will not only improve yields and farm incomes but also help Nigeria secure a stronger footing in Africa’s agricultural transformation agenda.
Discover more from Ameh News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
