Nigeria Unveils Bold Agrifood Reforms To Attract Global Investors And Secure Sahel’s Future

The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at boosting private sector participation and driving large-scale investments in Nigeria’s agricultural and food systems. According to Ireporter Online, the new policy direction seeks to strengthen food security, enhance value chains, and promote sustainable agrifood transformation across the Sahel region.

Speaking at a high-level panel during the FAO Hand-in-Hand Sahel Regional Initiative in Rome, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, highlighted several strategic programmes designed to attract long-term investments and modernize Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.

Kyari disclosed that the government is upgrading the National Agrifood System Investment Plan (NASIP) into a National Public–Private Investment Portal, a digital platform that will transparently showcase viable opportunities in mechanization, irrigation, processing, logistics, and digital agrifood services. He added that the government is introducing streamlined investment incentives — including targeted tax holidays and import duty waivers — to stimulate private capital inflows, while also expanding risk-sharing facilities in collaboration with international partners.

The minister further announced the expansion of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative — described as the largest of its kind in Africa — from eight to twenty-seven states. This, he said, will help reduce operating costs for agro-processors and foster integrated infrastructure for large-scale agricultural production.

Kyari also revealed that the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST) is being scaled up to tackle the N3.5 trillion annual losses attributed to postharvest inefficiencies. The programme focuses on modern storage, cold chain, and warehousing systems to minimize waste and improve profitability for farmers and agribusinesses.

He emphasized that robust public–private partnerships are vital to accelerating innovation, improving productivity, and ensuring sustainable growth within the agrifood sector. “Strategic and inclusive collaboration will drive innovation, create jobs, and deliver higher-quality investments across the Sahel,” Kyari stated.

Highlighting the need for “strong institutions, innovative financing, and smart governance,” he noted that effective implementation remains key to transforming policy frameworks into measurable outcomes. “Implementation is not abstract; it requires diligence, effective governance, and unwavering political will,” he said.

Kyari reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to translating policies into practical results by aligning public policy with private sector possibilities. He assured that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the government remains dedicated to building an enabling environment for both local and international investors.

“We will continue to work hand-in-hand with the FAO, IFAD, AfDB, the World Bank, ECOWAS, and the private sector to convert investment commitments into tangible projects that create jobs, feed families, and strengthen Nigeria’s food sovereignty,” he added.