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Tag: Abubakar Kyari

  • ‘Nigeria may lose $3b without EUDR compliance’

    ‘Nigeria may lose $3b without EUDR compliance’

    Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has warned that Nigeria stands to lose more than $3 billion annually if it fails to align with European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

    Kyari spoke yesterday in Abuja during signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ministry and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), with launch of Nigeria’s White Paper on  National Strategy for EUDR Compliance, in Abuja.

    The minister stressed the urgency for Nigeria to modernise its agricultural monitoring and traceability systems to avoid severe financial repercussions.

    He said findings in the White Paper show Nigeria could lose over $1 billion in direct export revenue and more than $3 billion in economic value each year if its agricultural produce fails to satisfy EU’s stringent entry requirements.

    Under EUDR, agricultural goods exported to Europe must be traceable to specific farm boundaries, produced legally, and demonstrably free of deforestation.

    “We cannot allow this level of exposure to place our farmers or our national economy at a disadvantage,” he warned, noting that the situation presents an opportunity to enhance Nigeria’s global agricultural competitiveness.

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    He described the new compliance strategy as significant and forward-looking, saying it would protect farmers, upgrade value chains, and help Nigeria secure a stronger hold in international markets.

    A key moment was signing of the MoU with NASRDA, which lays the foundation for an environmental and traceability monitoring system.

    Under the pact, NASRDA will supply satellite data, real-time monitoring, and technical expertise, while the ministry will coordinate farmer engagement, policy alignment, and the national rollout plan.

    The minister said the adopted Responsibility Matrix defines roles, timelines, and accountability mechanisms, with a Joint Steering Committee to ensure transparent execution.

    He cautioned states against initiating parallel compliance systems, stressing EU will not evaluate on state by state basis.

  • Fed Govt targets N160b output from dry season wheat farming

    Fed Govt targets N160b output from dry season wheat farming

    The Federal Government has said it aims to generate N160 billion from wheat production during the 2025/2026 dry season.

    The government announced that the revenue is expected to come from ongoing efforts to strengthen food sovereignty and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports.

    Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari announced this at the weekend during the flag-off of the Subsidised Agricultural Inputs Distribution for the 2025/2026 dry season wheat production programme under the National Agricultural Growth and Agro Pocket Project (NAGS-AP) in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Kyari said the ministry had earmarked 40,000 hectares and registered 80,000 farmers for the new production cycle with an expected output value of approximately N160 billion.

    The minister said Borno State alone received 3,000 hectares with 6,000 registered wheat farmers participating this season.

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    Recalling what happened during the previous seasons, Kyari said: “Under the 2023/2024 dry season wheat production programme, a total of 107,429 registered farmers were supported with critical subsidised inputs, resulting in an output valued at N474,628,000. During the 2024/2025 dry season, 279,297 registered farmers received support, with an output valued at N893,750,004.”

    The minister announced that for the current 2025/2026 season, the programme was targeting 80,000 registered farmers with an expected output value of approximately N160 billion.

    He explained that the NAGS-AP programme would deploy agricultural extension agents to guide farmers on modern agronomic practices and provide continuous field-level advisory services.

    Kyari announced that fertiliser and seed quality control officers would be mobilised to ensure that all inputs delivered to farmers meet the required standards, thereby guaranteeing higher productivity and improved yields.

    The minister stated that the wheat component of the NAGS-AP covers 16 states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara, among others.

    He noted that the inclusion of Cross River last year marked the first expansion of wheat production into the southern region, strengthening national efforts to diversify production across ecological zones.

    Kyari said: “NAGS-AP is deliberately designed to leave no one behind. The programme ensures that farmers across communities, including women and young people who play vital roles in our agricultural workforce, have equitable access to inputs, training, and opportunities.

    “The success of any agricultural season depends on the quality of inputs that reach our farmers. This is why NAGS-AP places strong emphasis on input quality, traceability, and transparent delivery systems, ensuring that every farmer receives the right inputs at the right time to achieve higher productivity and better returns.”

    Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum hailed the Federal Government for its consistent support for irrigation development.

    The governor lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to food security, saying national productivity provides the foundation upon which programmes like this are built.

    He highlighted Borno State’s agricultural potential, especially within the Lake Chad Basin, describing the state as one of Nigeria’s most promising agricultural frontiers.

    “Today is more than a ceremony; it is a celebration of hope, resilience, and our unwavering commitment to ensuring that no family in Borno State goes hungry and no farmer is left behind,” he said.

    The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to all-season farming, saying the state continues to provide modern machinery, improved seedling, fertilisers, agrochemicals, logistics, and other critical inputs to boost productivity.

    He said the state’s input support programmes have reached tens of thousands of smallholder farmers, resettled households, women, and youth, and provided improved seeds, agrochemicals, and agronomic guidance.

    On behalf of smallholder farmers in the state, Alhaji Haruna Umaru pledged the farmers’ commitment to boosting production in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the agricultural sector.

  • Food security remains top national priority – FG

    Food security remains top national priority – FG

    The Federal Government says food security remains a top national priority in the country.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, stated this during the distribution of farm inputs to smallholder farmers on Wednesday in Osogbo.

    Kyari, represented by Mr Ayodele Olawumi, Director of Agricultural Extension in the ministry, said the Federal Government remained resolute in its commitment to developing the agricultural sector in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Kyari said to address the underlying challenges hindering national food security, the Federal Government embarked on bold economic reforms designed to stimulate productive capacity, create jobs, and reduce the cost of living.

    The minister also said in addition to the economic reform, targeted humanitarian interventions and emergency responses had been implemented to cushion the effects of the current food crisis across the country.

    “I wish to assure you today that President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated unwavering political will and commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

    “With food security positioned as one of the central pillars of his administration’s priorities,” he said.

    Kyari said since 2023, the Federal Government had undertaken a thorough review of existing programmes and initiatives to identify what needs to change and how best to realign them with the core mandates of the ministry.

    “Accordingly, the ministry has rolled out several programmes and projects aimed at addressing the challenges faced by farmers while ensuring that food remains available, accessible, and affordable to all Nigerians”, he said.

    The minister said the distribution of farm inputs was in fulfillment of the president’s promise to cushion the effects of the prevailing economic situation and to encourage continued food production.

    He said the intervention formed part of their broader program aimed at increasing national food production and ensuring stability in food availability and prices.

    “The ultimate goal of every nation is to attain food security, a global priority underscored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    “This administration remains resolute in its commitment to developing the agricultural sector in alignment with the SDGs,” he said.

    Kyari called on the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to their welfare and to reciprocate by increasing productivity and contributing to the country’s food security.

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    In his remarks, Mr Taiwo Aiyegoro, the state Coordinator of the ministry, said the distribution of farm inputs was a testament to the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to supporting smallholder farmers.

    According to him, the farm inputs will go a long way in enhancing the productivity and livelihoods of the farmers who are the backbone of the agricultural sector.

    Mr Tola Faseru, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in the state, commended the Federal Government for remembering the farmers in the state.

    Faseru, represented by Mr Moshood Adepoju, Director of Administration and Supplies in the ministry, said the inputs would assist farmers in ensuring food security in the state.

    Mr Wahaab Bello, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), commended the Federal Government for the gesture.

    Bello, however, appealed to the government to resuscitate the services of farmers’ extension officers to assist farmers in their food production.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the farm inputs distributed included fertilisers, chemicals, grinders, seedlings, among others.

    (NAN)

  • FG implementing intervention programmes to address food crisis – Minister

    FG implementing intervention programmes to address food crisis – Minister

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, says that the Federal Government has implemented humanitarian interventions and emergency responses to cushion the effects of food crisis in the country.

    Abubakar stated this on Monday in Akure at the distribution of farm inputs to farmers to boost agricultural production and ensure food security.

    He said that the government had put in place various programmes to address underlying challenges hindering the national food security objectives.

    According to him, the present administration has embarked on bold economic reforms designed to stimulate productive capacity, create jobs and reduce the cost of living.

    The minister, who was represented by the Director of Extension in the ministry, Mr Ayodele Olawumi, said the distribution of the inputs was toward achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

    “In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government has declared food security as a national priority, culminating in the declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security in July, 2023.

    “I wish to assure you that President Tinubu has demonstrated unwavering political will and commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agriculture sector, with food security positioned as one of the central pillars of his administration’s priorities.

    “Since our assumption of office, we have undertaken a thorough review of existing programmes and initiatives to identify what needs to change and how best to realign them with the core mandates of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS).

    “Accordingly, the ministry has rolled out several programmes and projects aimed at addressing the challenges faced by farmers while ensuring that food remains available, accessible, and affordable to all Nigerians.

    “As part of our short-term intervention measures, we have designed support mechanisms to make essential farm inputs more affordable and accessible to farmers under a transparent and accountable system,” he said.

    He said that the intervention was aimed at increasing national food production and ensuring stability in food availability and prices.

    Abubakar added that the administration remained resolute in its commitment to developing the agricultural sector in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    In his remarks, the state Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Sunday Ojo, said that the intervention was to empower the smallholder farmers.

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    Ojo added that the intervention would also increase agricultural productivity and enhance resilience within local farming communities.

    The state coordinator explained that agriculture remains the backbone of the state’s economy and smallholder farmers constitute the majority of the farming population.

    He noted that providing the farmers with quality improved seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals and other essentials would boost yields and improve livelihood and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s food basket.

    Ojo thanked the Federal Government for prioritising farmers’ welfare, asking the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs in justifying the confidence reposed in them.

    The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria( SWOFON), and other stakeholders commended the Federal Government for the intervention.

    Some of the inputs distributed are: Pesti Zyme, knapsack sprayers, water pump, high pressure sprayers, power tillers, dehydrators and ultimax plus.

    (NAN)

  • Fed Govt reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to Kampala’s declaration on food security

    Fed Govt reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to Kampala’s declaration on food security

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing the Kampala Declaration (2026–2036) on Agriculture and Food Security.

    This, he said, will enhance sustainable food production, drive agro-industrialisation, reduce post-harvest losses, and boost intra-African agricultural trade.

    Kyari stated this during the Community of Practice Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) with the theme “From Kampala to Abuja: Transforming Agrifood Systems in Nigeria,” held in Abuja.

    According to the Minister, the declaration’s implementation seeks to deepen agricultural investments, promote regional integration, foster inclusivity, advance research and development, encourage innovation, and strengthen governance structures across the sector.

    “The need to drive food system transformation cannot be overemphasized. We must move beyond business-as-usual approaches and embrace bold reforms that make our food systems more productive, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. This transformation is essential to ensure food security in the country,” Kyari said.

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    He noted that the Federal Government has made significant progress through clear policy direction and collaboration with state governments in executing the Malabo Declaration, with the African Union’s Biennial Review showing notable improvement in Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem over the past decade.

    Kyari revealed that the ministry has established an Agricultural Sector Working Group consisting of research institutions, private sector actors, development partners, non-governmental organizations, and civil society stakeholders.

    He explained that the group serves as a governance mechanism to scale up best practices, monitor progress, identify gaps, and mobilise collective action toward achieving shared goals in the agricultural sector.

    Highlighting key government initiatives, Kyari disclosed that the Federal Government has provided 2,000 tractors and related implements to enhance food production and has launched the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Kaduna, Cross River, and Ogun States, with more to follow.

    He added that under the SAPZ project, the country has attracted $538.05 million in investments, leveraging private sector participation to establish industrial hubs and agricultural transformation centers. This initiative, he said, is expected to stimulate an additional $1 billion in investment by 2027.

    The Minister also referenced the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST), unveiled at the recent Africa Food System Summit in Dakar, which targets the reduction of annual post-harvest losses estimated at ₦3.5 trillion.

    “The outcome of this investment drive will create a more efficient, sustainable, and equitable food system — improving farmers’ income, reducing waste, strengthening value chains, and advancing national food sovereignty,” he stated.

    Kyari emphasised that achieving the objectives of the Kampala Declaration requires strong synergy between federal and state governments, urging Commissioners of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Rural Development to align efforts for effective policy implementation.

    “Our challenges require not only innovative solutions but also coordinated action and unwavering commitment at every level of government,” he added, assuring that the Federal Government remains committed to supporting state-level initiatives in alignment with CAADP and national priorities.

    Delivering her goodwill message, Deputy Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo, commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, GIZ, and other partners for organizing the summit.

    She said the Kampala Declaration offers Africa an opportunity to realign agricultural goals and address challenges such as low productivity, climate shocks, and gender inequality.

    Dankabo presented findings from ActionAid’s Non-State Actors Biennial Review Value Addition Toolkit (NSAs VABKIT), which identified critical gaps affecting smallholder women farmers, including limited access to credit (below 23%), agricultural insurance (4.77%), and processing facilities (18%).

    She urged increased investment in women-led agribusinesses, agricultural extension services, and post-harvest infrastructure.

    Dankabo also announced the launch of ActionAid’s Pots and Pans Campaign” on October 1, 2025, aimed at raising awareness about hunger and poverty among Nigeria’s 133 million citizens living in multidimensional poverty.

    The campaign encourages peaceful protest against hunger by banging empty pots and pans in public spaces, using hashtags such as #MyHungerStory, #PotsAndPansAction, and #EndHungerNow.

    In his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi,said CAADP implementation has transformed Nigeria’s agricultural landscape by aligning national policies with continental priorities and driving measurable progress.

    Also speaking, Dr. Karen Yansen, Head of German Cooperation, described the Kampala Declaration as an evidence-based framework designed to strengthen governance systems through integrated monitoring, inclusivity, and equity.

  • Fed Govt targets $3.14bn investment to drive food security

    Fed Govt targets $3.14bn investment to drive food security

    The Federal Government has unveiled plans to attract a $3.14 billion agricultural investment portfolio under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Hand-in-Hand Initiative, with  focus on boosting food security and achieving food sovereignty.

    Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this at the National and Sub-Regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum held in Abuja.

    He said the initiative will focus on five priority value chains tomato, cassava, maize, dairy, and fisheries designed to eradicate poverty, end hunger, and build resilience in rural communities.

    According to Kyari, the investment pipeline is backed by $1.75 billion in government funding and $1.39 billion in private sector commitments, with an expected average internal rate of return of 14 per cent.

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    He noted that the programme is projected to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, create jobs, and improve food and nutrition security.

     “Per capita incomes will rise by as much as $657 and we will contribute to global climate goals by sequestering over 1.2 million tonnes of carbon,” he said, stressing that Nigeria’s vast agricultural resources make it one of the continent’s most compelling investment destinations.

    Highlighting ongoing interventions, the minister listed investments in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, expansion of cold chain logistics, recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture, and promotion of local manufacturing of inputs and equipment.

    He added that investors would benefit from tax incentives, duty waivers on machinery, pioneer status tax holidays, and credits for firms sourcing raw materials locally.

    “Together, these incentives create one of the most comprehensive enabling environments for agribusiness investment in Africa,” Kyari said.

  • ‘Proactive policies will unlock sustainable agrifood systems’

    ‘Proactive policies will unlock sustainable agrifood systems’

    Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said proactive policies in agricultural sector will unlock sustainable agrifood systems to safeguard the climate, restore soil health, enhance production, and guarantee dignified livelihoods for farmers.

    Kyari spoke at the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) Forum of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Rome.

     He recalled that in 2022, the then Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, entered into a partnership with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) Programme.

    The collaboration, he said, produced policy analyses that continue to shape Nigeria’s agricultural policymaking.

    Kyari noted Nigeria is spearheading an initiative to build climate-resilient and nature-positive food system. Strategies, he said, include distribution of improved seeds, sustainable soil management, boosting food production, and expanding agroforestry.

    He said the National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan is a major driver of agricultural transformation to enhance investments, boost production, create jobs, reduce poverty, and others, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and promoting reforestation.

    Kyari added Nigeria’s forthcoming Nationally Determined Contributions will align climate commitments with transformation agricultural priorities.

    These include scaling up climate-smart agriculture, restoring degraded lands, promoting regenerative practice, and empowering smallholder farmers.

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    Building on these, Nigeria has advanced its National Adaptation Plan, which integrates climate priorities in agriculture, water, health, and infrastructure, with emphasis on community-led and ecosystem-based solutions.

    He noted that the country is positioning itself under Article 6 of Paris Agreement by creating policies and market mechanisms for carbon trading.

    By leveraging carbon credits from climate-smart agriculture, afforestation, and ecosystem restoration, Nigeria aims to attract fresh investments while directly supporting smallholder farmers.

    He listed development partnership projects already strengthening resilience in the sector, including the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme, Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), and the National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro Pockets (NAGS-AP).

    Calling for global collaboration, the minister urged stakeholders and international financial institutions such as IFAD, FAO, and GEF to scale up concessional and blended financing, share risk, and support high-impact programmes that benefit smallholder farmers and rural communities.

    Kyari also commended FAO and IFAD for their technical support through the Global Environment Facility’s Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP), which he said is helping Nigeria while fostering cross-country knowledge sharing and innovation.

  • Proactive policies will unlock sustainable agrifood systems, says Kyari

    Proactive policies will unlock sustainable agrifood systems, says Kyari

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has said that proactive policies in Nigeria’s agricultural sector are key to unlocking sustainable agrifood systems that will safeguard the climate, restore soil health, enhance production, and guarantee dignified livelihoods for farmers.

    Kyari made the remarks at an event themed “Unlocking Sustainable Agrifood Systems for Climate, Nature, and Livelihoods” during the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) Forum of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Rome.

    He recalled that in 2022, the ministry, then known as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, entered into a partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the Monitoring and Analyzing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) Programme.

    The collaboration, he said, has produced extensive policy analyses that continue to shape Nigeria’s agricultural policymaking.

    According to the minister, Nigeria is spearheading a national initiative to build a climate-resilient and nature-positive food system in line with national policies. Ongoing strategies include the distribution of improved seeds, sustainable soil management, boosting food production, and expanding agroforestry.

    Kyari highlighted the National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan (NASIP) as a major driver of agricultural transformation, aimed at enhancing investments, boosting production, creating jobs, reducing poverty, and making nutritious diets more affordable, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and promoting reforestation.

    He further disclosed that Nigeria’s forthcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) will align climate commitments with agricultural transformation priorities.

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    These include scaling up climate-smart agriculture, restoring degraded lands, promoting regenerative practices, and empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth.

    Building on these, Nigeria has also advanced its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which integrates climate priorities across agriculture, water, health, and infrastructure, with emphasis on community-led and ecosystem-based solutions.

    Kyari noted that the country is positioning itself under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement by creating enabling policies and market mechanisms for carbon trading. By leveraging carbon credits from climate-smart agriculture, afforestation, and ecosystem restoration, Nigeria aims to attract fresh investments while directly supporting smallholder farmers.

    He listed development partnership projects already strengthening resilience in the sector, including the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme, Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), and the National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro Pockets (NAGS-AP).

    Calling for global collaboration, the minister urged stakeholders and international financial institutions such as IFAD, FAO, and GEF to scale up concessional and blended financing, share risk, and support high-impact programmes that benefit smallholder farmers and rural communities.

    Kyari also commended FAO and IFAD for their technical support through the Global Environment Facility’s Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP), which he said is helping Nigeria while fostering cross-country knowledge sharing and innovation.

  • Fed Govt tackles N3.5 trillion post-harvest losses

    Fed Govt tackles N3.5 trillion post-harvest losses

    The federal government has unveiled the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST) to tackle annual post-harvest losses estimated at N3.5 trillion.

    The initiative was announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, during the Nigeria Legacy Programme at the Africa Food Systems Forum, held in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in Dakar, Senegal.

    Kyari, in a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Information, Ikemefuna Ezeaja, said NiPHaST was designed to build a resilient, efficient, and inclusive post-harvest handling and storage system that reduces food waste, boosts farmer incomes, and strengthens national food sovereignty.

    The programme, he said will focus on household storage technologies, community warehouses, cold rooms, and strategic national silos managed through public–private partnerships. 

    He said it will also drive investments across the storage value chain, including processing, preservation, packaging, and climate-smart infrastructure such as metal silos and cold storage facilities.

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    According to the minister, NiPHaST will help stabilise food prices, enhance availability and affordability of staples, improve storage capacity, and promote food import substitution.

    It is also expected to improve agricultural exports, nutrition, job creation, and overall farmer livelihoods.

    Kyari further stressed the importance of international collaboration in transforming Nigeria’s post-harvest systems, saying the program would “secure farmer livelihoods, revive agribusiness confidence, and position Nigeria as a leading food supplier in West Africa.”

    Dignitaries at the event included Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar A. Namadi; Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma; Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Abu Ibrahim; and President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group, Arc. Kabir Ibrahim.

  • Ban on raw shea nuts export excites Agric minister, others

    Ban on raw shea nuts export excites Agric minister, others

    Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector have hailed the temporary ban placed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the export of raw shea nuts.

    The six-month ban, recently announced by President Tinubu through Vice President Kashim Shettima, according to them, is a strategic policy to protect and grow Nigeria’s domestic shea industry.

    They said it will not only halt the annual loss of over 90,000 metric tonnes of raw shea to informal cross-border trade, but also secure raw materials for local processors, who currently operate at only 35-50% capacity.

    The stakeholders also noted that the ban will boost jobs and incomes in rural communities and protect a value chain where 95 per cent of pickers and processors are women.

    “The decision positions Nigeria alongside regional leaders in shea production, including Ghana, Togo, Mali and Burkina Faso, which have already implemented similar restrictions to develop their local processing industries and retain value within their economies,” they said.

    Across the West African corridor, value addition for shea nuts has been a big topic.

    The minister said: “Regional neighbours such as Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Togo have already imposed restrictions to protect their industries, leaving Nigeria as the outlier and a hotspot for opportunistic and unregulated buying.”

    Data and Impact Assessment Manager of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), Eniola Akindele, also underscored the untapped potential in the Shea value chain.

    She said: “Shea has the potential to become Nigeria’s untapped goldmine. Beyond its well-known use in cosmetics, shea is increasingly in demand as a substitute for cocoa in global chocolate and confectionery industries.”

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    “With the right processing capacity and investment platforms, Nigeria can transform its currently underutilised shea value chain into a billion-dollar industry, one that creates jobs, empowers women, and significantly boosts our foreign exchange earnings.”

    One of the stakeholders, Kabir Ibrahim, hailed the presidential directive as a transformative game-changer for the Nigerian economy.

    Ibrahim, who is National President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) and the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), stated: “This is a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s agricultural industrialisation. For decades, we have exported raw shea nuts only to import the finished products at a much higher cost.

    “This policy corrects that imbalance. It is a strategic imperative that will stimulate investment in local processing facilities, create thousands of jobs for our youth and women in rural communities, and significantly increase our national export earnings from a commodity we are blessed with in abundance.

    “We commend His Excellency, President Tinubu, for this bold and visionary action, and we hope that this initiative is extended to other value chains as well.”