FG targets private investment to drive agricultural growth

Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, has said increased private sector participation remains the strongest driver of growth in the country’s agricultural economy, stressing that new investments and innovation will be critical to improving productivity across value chains.

Kyari made the statement in Abuja during a visit by a delegation of the Food and Agriculture Organisation led by Alessandro Marini, Chief for the Investment Centre in West and Central Africa.

He said the Federal Government is working to create a stable and predictable business environment through clear policies and regulatory frameworks that can reduce investor risk and incentivise long term capital inflows.

Kyari said previous engagements with development partners including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development underscored a shared understanding that the private sector is the primary engine of growth.

He added that the meeting offered an avenue for FAO to interface directly with directors and technical teams as well as private operators to gain deeper insight into opportunities in crop and livestock value chains.

He noted the presence of the National Agricultural Development Fund established to enhance agricultural finance and innovation and said discussions with partners focused on priority areas that can deliver measurable impact.

Kyari welcomed the expanded footprint of the FAO investment centre which opened an office in Lagos earlier this year, adding that visits to production sites nationwide would expose partners to the scale of activity taking place across staples and livestock.

He said the engagement aligns with the directive of President Bola Tinubu who mandated the Ministry to strengthen food systems and chart a path towards food sovereignty.

With Nigeria’s population projected by the World Bank to rise from 232 million to 400 million by 2050, Kyari said the urgency for sustained investment could not be overstated.

But, Alessandro Marini said the organisation would work closely with the Federal Government to unlock agribusiness investment in line with the country’s economic diversification agenda.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC

Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications

She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet.

An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.