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Tag: Kashim Shettima

  • Deeper integration vital to African markets

    Deeper integration vital to African markets

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday cautioned that Africa cannot achieve industrial scale, negotiate competitively, or withstand global economic shocks if it continues to operate as a tapestry of fragmented markets hemmed in by inefficient borders.

     He said only deeper integration and seamless cross-border operations can unlock the continent’s industrial and trade potential.

     The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the assertion in Abuja while declaring open the Customs Pact – Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT).

     He maintained that Africa’s prosperity hinges on dismantling structural barriers that slow movement, limit competitiveness, and fracture economies across the continent.

    “Fragmented markets cannot achieve industrial scale, negotiate effectively with global powers, or withstand external shocks,” he said, adding that integration enables “large-scale industrialisation, collective bargaining strength, and resilient supply chains.”

     Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to drive the emergence of an Africa where borders enable opportunity rather than impede it.

    He said size, population, or endowments are inconsequential if countries remain trapped behind inefficient borders and outdated administrative systems.

    “Nigeria remains firmly committed, structurally and operationally, to building an Africa that trades by design, where integration is practical, measurable and effective.

    Our ambition is simple: a continent where borders facilitate opportunities rather than inhibit them,” he stated.

    The President said although Africa had already taken the hardest step by agreeing on continental integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), real progress now depends on disciplined execution.

    “Success will be judged not by communiqués but by real outcomes, shorter border-crossing times, reliable local-currency settlements and efficient movement of goods across borders and ports,” he added.

    Tinubu recalled that his administration’s economic reforms, unifying the foreign exchange market, removing fuel subsidies, modernising ports, and aligning trade institutions, were designed to clear structural obstacles limiting competitiveness.

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    He noted that the Nigeria Customs Service’s digital clearance systems, the Nigerian Ports Authority’s efficiency drive, the Central Bank’s facilitation of PAPSS settlements, and the product harmonisation role of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria are part of an integrated national trade-enablement architecture.

    “These reforms reinforce one another, creating a coherent foundation for stronger continental commerce. No single agency can deliver the scale of reform required for Africa’s prosperity,” he argued.

    On measurable outcomes, the President said Nigeria is already seeing gains. Non-oil exports to African markets grew by 38 percent in 2024, cargo clearance time has dropped by about 30 percent since 2023, and paper-based compliance is being phased out in favour of digital processes.

    He described the National Single Window as central to Nigeria’s trade strategy, announcing that phase one will go live in March 2026, with full rollout expected by December 2026.

    The platform, he said, will automate inter-agency coordination, cut clearance time from 21 days to under a week, and reinforce Nigeria’s role as a frontrunner in customs digitalisation.

    Earlier, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, urged African governments to dismantle remaining trade barriers and align with global best practices.

    Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said Tinubu’s decisive reforms had strengthened fiscal discipline and placed Nigeria on course for accelerated regional integration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Ian Saunders, praised Nigeria’s ongoing reforms, pledging WCO support in driving legitimate trade facilitation. Afreximbank Executive Vice President, Kanayo Awani, also endorsed the modernisation efforts across Africa’s customs systems.

    Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, called for deeper cross-country integration, warning that “we cannot continue to work in silos.”

    AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, assured that the Secretariat will collaborate closely with the NCS to ensure that C-PACT’s objectives become reality.

    The conference drew customs chiefs, trade experts and policymakers from across the continent, all reiterating the need for harmonised systems to unlock Africa’s intra-continental trade potential.

  • Behold One Day vice president

    Behold One Day vice president

    • Ogah makes case for girl-child

    Nigeria had a “new Vice President” on Monday – albeit for a few hours.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima yielded his seat to Miss Joy Ogah, a teenager, to run affairs from his office.

    It was a symbolic one-day vice presidency – an idea which provided an opportunity for inspiration.

    Miss Ogah was on the delegation of the PLAN International to the Vice President’s office before her “nomination for the position”.

    Shettima promptly stood up and gesture to her to sit  on the exalted seat with the crest of the office of Vice President fully emblazoned on it.

    Exercising the “powers of the office”, she spoke on the need to educate children and empower the girl-child.

    According to her 10.5 million children are out of school, with over 60 percent of them being girls.

    She said Nigerian girls could become leaders if the necessary interventions were implemented by relevant authorities and stakeholders.

    She said the government, policymakers, development partners, and citizens should act strategically in advancing girl-child education.

    “We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria,” she said.

    READ ALSO: A new leaf?

    Miss Ogah said laws that protect the rights of every girl-child should be enforced. She  highlighted the need to provide free sanitary products in schools, as well as ensure access to water, sanitation, and nutrition for the Nigerian child.

     “When a girl-child is protected, peace becomes possible.”

     “I may be the Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day. They must continue in our policies, our classrooms, our conversations, and our budgets.”

    According to her, every girl deserves a classroom, a choice, dignity, and not silence.

    The PLAN International last year organized the one-day Shadow Speaker programme during which a teenager Miss Isabel Anani occupied the seat of House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and called for the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on sanitary pads and diapers.

     Just like last year’s, the one-day vice presidency was to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-Child.

    Leader of the PLAN International delegation Helen Mfonobong Idiong, who is the Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation of the organization,  said girls around the world face crises, and Nigeria is not an exception.

    She explained that the organization had provided interventions for over 11 million Nigerian children in areas such as education, entrepreneurship, and youth development.

    “We have been working across Nigeria to improve the lives of children,” she said.

    ‘We will support girl-child education’

    Vice President Shettima assured stakeholders and development partners of the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promoting girl-child education across Nigeria.

    He said: “We will continue the engagement with PLAN International and see where the force and strength of government can be brought to bear on your solid advice on girl-child education”.

    He  told the delegation that “in President Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in.”

    He explained that the administration is passionate and deeply committed to advancing girl-child education.

    The Vice President also described First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a symbol of how a properly empowered and supported girl-child can blossom into a great leader.

    He recalled that when the First Lady served in the  Senate, she contributed actively to debates, especially those relating to girl-child education.

    “I want to assure you, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that this government is gender-friendly. We believe in inclusivity. We cannot disenfranchise half of our population and expect to grow as a nation,” he stated.

    The Vice President assured PLAN International that the Administration’s doors are open for continuous engagement, adding that “the ladies on my team are the best people to engage.”

    When President Tinubu was governor of Lagos State, he initiated the idea of one-day governor, which ran annually from year 2000.

    The winner of the annual Spelling Bee competition, a pet project of wife of the governor, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu (as she then was, usually served as the one-day governor).

  • ‘We need multi-stakeholder funding for disaster readiness’

    ‘We need multi-stakeholder funding for disaster readiness’

    Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has called for multi-stakeholder funding to prepare for floods, fire outbreaks, landslides, droughts, and other disasters.

    Shettima spoke in Abuja at 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), with the theme: “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters”.

    He launched NEMA Strategy Plan (2025–2029) and National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2025–2030) to guide stakeholders and ensure disaster risk management becomes an integral part of planning.

    He noted preparing for disasters before they strike is wiser, cheaper, and more humane than rebuilding.

    He said every naira spent on preparedness and every investment in resilience is an investment in lives and future.

    Shettima noted that Federal Government is developing a National Disaster Risk Financing Framework to guarantee that funding for prevention and preparedness is available.

    He said: “The theme this year speaks to a truth we often overlook: it is far wiser, far cheaper, and far more humane to prepare for disasters before they strike than to rebuild after they destroy. Every naira we spend today on preparedness saves many more tomorrow on response and recovery. Every investment in resilience is, in truth, an investment in the lives and future of our people.

    Speaking on the fund’s importance, Shettima said: “We do not have to look far to understand this message. We have seen floods wash away farmlands, erosion swallow roads, and fires raze markets that took years to build.

    “These tragedies happen not in distant lands, but in our communities. They remind us that if we fail to invest in resilience, we will spend resources cleaning up after crises instead of building lasting prosperity.

    “We are integrating disaster risk reduction into every sector; agriculture, infrastructure,  education, health, while expanding early warning systems to ensure communities get alerts before floods, droughts, or disease outbreaks occur”.

    He said emergency management agencies are strengthened through training, technology, and coordination support.

    On funding, Shettima said: “We are developing a National Disaster Risk Financing Framework to guarantee that funding for prevention and preparedness is available when and where it is needed. And we are deepening partnerships with partners, private sector, and institutions to drive innovation and resilience building.’’

    “To fund resilience is to invest in drainage systems, not relief camps; to build stronger schools and hospitals, not temporary shelters; to support farmers with climate-smart tools, not just food aid after floods; and to train and equip our first responders before the sirens start to wail. This is the shift we must make from reacting to crises to anticipating and preventing them. ‘‘

    “Resilience cannot be guaranteed by government alone. It is built by all of us. It is reflected in how we plan our cities, in how businesses protect their workers, and in how communities share information and look out for one another. This is why our private sector must see itself as a partner in prevention, embedding risk reduction into corporate planning and investment decisions.

    “Our academia and research institutions also bear the responsibility of helping us generate the data, innovation, and practical research we need to prepare for a safer future

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    He added that the decades of disasters Nigeria and the world have endured must serve as an inspiration to move from sympathy after disasters to strategy before they happen.

    “We must replace reaction with readiness and fear with foresight because none of our efforts will yield results unless we empower and support our communities to take ownership of their safety.

    The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, emphasised the need for a proactive and well-financed disaster risk management framework to mitigate the impact of disasters in Nigeria.

    She said the country must move from reactive, ad-hoc funding of disasters to a multi-stakeholder financing architecture that supports prevention, preparedness, and sustainable recovery.

    She said Nigeria continues to experience increasing frequency and intensity of disasters driven by climate change, conflicts, pandemics, and technological risks.

    Umar said the occurrence of disasters is testing the limits of traditional emergency response systems and demanding a more proactive, preventive, and well-financed disaster risk management framework.

    She said: “We need to collectively rethink how we fund resilience; to move from reactive, ad-hoc funding of disasters to a multi-stakeholder financing architecture that supports prevention, preparedness, and sustainable recovery.

    “Our focus will extend beyond emergency management institutions. Resilience must be mainstreamed across sectors from agriculture, water resources, energy and infrastructure to finance, education, and health”.

    The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal spoke on the need for sustainable funding mechanisms, noting that funding must be available to prepare adequately for disasters.

    “Disaster management is not in a cube or box where you can easily pick the solution. Mechanisms for funding must be available, and it is an economic necessity. So, preparedness and resilience must be funded deliberately. “

  • Shettima urges businesses to take advantage of govt’s pro-business policies

    Shettima urges businesses to take advantage of govt’s pro-business policies

    The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to seize the opportunity to align government policies, private sector innovation, and development finance towards building a thriving economy where small businesses flourish, industries expand, and prosperity is widely shared.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima made the appeal in Abuja at the 6th Annual Lecture of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN). He was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Tope Fasua.

    According to Shettima, the theme of this year’s lecture, “Positioning Nigerian MSMEs for Growth in a Dynamic Policy Environment”, speaks directly to the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He said micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) remain central to economic growth and national development.

     “MSMEs are not peripheral actors; they are the lifeblood of our economy, accounting for over 80 per cent of employment and making a significant contribution to GDP,” the Vice President said.

    “As the government provides policy clarity and enabling infrastructure, institutions like DBN are critical partners in translating that vision into action, ensuring that every entrepreneur, from the farmer in Kano to the digital innovator in Lagos, can access the tools to thrive.”

    Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director of DBN, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, revealed that the Bank had disbursed over N1.1 trillion to MSMEs across the country as of December 2024.

    The funds were channelled through 79 Participating Financial Institutions to support over 700,000 businesses.

     “These figures represent more than just numbers; they reflect jobs sustained, dreams realised, and enterprises positioned for growth,” Okpanachi said.

    He acknowledged that MSMEs have faced significant challenges over the years, particularly limited access to finance, which has hampered their growth and sustainability.

    However, he pointed to recent interventions, including the inauguration of the National Council on MSME, as a sign of renewed commitment to the sector.

     “In recent years, we have seen a new dawn and a rekindled hope for MSMEs in Nigeria with unwavering commitment to alleviating their challenges,” Okpanachi said. “We at DBN align strongly with this agenda and are doing a lot to ensure that MSMEs continue to prosper and flourish. Nigerian MSMEs, with their resilient, creative, and adaptive DNA, can rise stronger, provided we equip them with the right tools, access to finance, knowledge, and enabling policies.”

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    Delivering this year’s lecture, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Melvine Teas, Flora Mutahi, urged African entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and bridge the gap between the continent’s large number of enterprises and their relatively low contribution to economic growth.

    Mutahi noted that Africa has about 24 million MSMEs, representing 22 percent of the global total, yet they contribute only 40 percent to the continent’s GDP. By comparison, MSMEs in India account for 50–60 percent of GDP, while SMEs in Europe contribute between 53–60 percent of global GDP, despite having fewer enterprises.

    She attributed the disparity to infrastructure bottlenecks, fragmented markets, and poor access to capital, stressing that Africa receives only one percent of global venture capital funding. She also cited data from the African Development Bank showing that while 10–12 million young people enter the job market annually, only 3 million jobs are created.

    Calling for a mindset shift among African entrepreneurs, Mutahi said: “We must really buckle up, pull up our socks, and build our MSMEs to stand on local, regional, and global platforms.”

    She outlined four pillars that she believes are critical for success: a clear sense of purpose in solving customer problems; solid business models supported by advisory structures; strong systems and processes to avoid bottlenecks; and leadership that empowers teams as businesses expand.

    Mutahi concluded that with resilience, innovation, and the right support, African MSMEs could transform into sustainable drivers of growth and job creation across the continent.

  • Lagos seeks unity, prayers, thanksgiving

    Lagos seeks unity, prayers, thanksgiving

    As part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, yesterday held a Special Church Service at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja.

    It offered thanksgiving, prayers and intercession for the country.

    Preaching, the District Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Dr. Paul Fadayini, described the theme of the anniversary: ‘A Rising Nation,’ as prophetic and spiritually-significant. Drawing inspiration from Micah 7:8, he advised Nigerians to remain steadfast in hope and thankful to God despite the challenges.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, rejoiced with residents of Lagos State and Nigerians at large.

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    He hailed the spirit of cordiality and harmony among Lagosians and appealed for sustained prayers for leaders at all levels, stressing that governance required the support of the people.

    Wife of Lagos State governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Ronke Omotoso, wife of Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, expressed joy at witnessing the milestone celebration.

    She prayed for divine strength and protection for residents of Lagos and Nigerians in general.

    The service featured intercessory prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, members of the Executive Council, Legislature, Judiciary, civil and public servants. There were also prayers for peace, unity, economic stability and security across the country.

    The event was attended by members of the Executive Council, Body of Permanent Secretaries, political leaders, clergymen, school children, traders as well as civil and public servants.

  • Nigeria secures AfDB commitment for agric expansion as SAPZ rolls out to 24 states

    Nigeria secures AfDB commitment for agric expansion as SAPZ rolls out to 24 states

    …as Shettima meets St. Kitts PM on strengthening Africa–Caribbean ties

    Nigeria has secured enhanced funding commitments from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to operationalise the second phase of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), expanding the programme from eight states and the FCT to 24 states.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima made the request on Friday in New York during a bilateral meeting with AfDB President, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

    Justifying the country’s request, the Vice President said Nigeria is the largest shareholder in AfDB and its portfolio hovers in the neighbourhood of over $10 billion.

    In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said “we urge you to further support us in the phase 2 Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ).

    “You assisted us with $300 million when you were in Liberia. We want to thank you, but like Oliver Twist, we are asking for more because we are poised to diversify our mono-product economy into agriculture, especially value-added agricultural export.

    “And we have the potential in all the agro-ecological zones in Nigeria. From the mangrove forest swamps in the south to the Sahelian region in the far north, you can virtually grow anything. In states like Kebbi, the soil is very fertile,” he emphasised.

    VP Shettima added that Nigeria boasts a resourceful youth population that is development-oriented and eager to be co-opted into the workforce of the 21st century.

    The Vice President implored the AfDB President to also look into the issue of the bank’s support for innovation-driven enterprises, instead of focusing only on MSMEs, noting that the digital space offers a vista of opportunities for Africa’s development.

    “We can catalyse and accelerate the digital space in Africa. Already, out of the eight unicorns in Africa, five are from Nigeria – Moniepoint, Jumia, and the rest. We want to once again reiterate that we are with you, we are for you, and we will stand by you,” VP Shettima told Dr Tah.

    In his remarks, Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Lawal, sought the support of the bank for the Pan African Great Green Wall Initiative, especially Nigeria’s Great Green Wall Project.

    He said, “I want to appeal for the extension of your support to Nigeria’s National Agency for the Great Green Wall. The agency is responsible for containing desertification in the Sahelian part of Africa. I also want to plead that you look at what we have done so far in addressing environmental degradation in the 11 frontline States.

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    “We have already submitted our proposal to the Ministry of Finance on the issue of clean cooking policy, which is also directly linked to the afforestation process. It is important because it will address two issues of deforestation and health.”

    On his part, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Ahmed Dangiwa, appealed to the AfDB boss to support the ministry in addressing the housing deficit, adding that the housing sub-sector needs substantial funding.

    In his remarks, AfDB’s President, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, assured that under his leadership, the bank will spare no effort to provide Nigeria with the support it deserves in terms of developing its human capital.

    “My vision for the bank is not as a lending institution, but as a catalyst institution with which to mobilise resources and capital from all over the world to Africa. I hope we can really bring capital to the continent to make the transformation of our continent possible and bring value to the agricultural sector.

    “This is why my four cardinal points are: mobilise large-scale capital through partnerships, reform Africa’s financial architecture, convert the continent’s demographic dividend into economic strength for job creation, and industrialise Africa by harnessing its natural resources to add value and build resilient infrastructure.

    “These points form my roadmap to guide the bank’s strategy and accelerate Africa’s development, and I’m confident that with your support, the bank will be able to bring transformation to the continent,” the AfDB President said.

    VP Shettima meets St. Kitts Prime Minister to strengthen Africa-Caribbean ties

    Earlier, Vice President Shettima held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Drew, where they recommitted to strengthening economic and cultural ties.

    VP Shettima assured drew of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s determination to rekindle friendship and brotherhood between both nations.

    He said, “Going forward, we should have robust engagement and understanding. We should stand by each other. We should stand for one another. We should support each other’s interests.

    “For St. Kitts and Nevis, and Nigeria, what binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. The majority of the population of the Caribbean is of African descent. A large chunk of them are English-speaking countries. Quite a number of them belong to the Commonwealth. So, the commonalities we share are so significant, but contact has been low, relative to what it ought to be.”

    “So, your Excellency, I want to assure you that my boss is very keen on rekindling that friendship, that sense of brotherhood and sisterhood, and see to it that going forward, we should have robust engagement and understanding,” he added.

    Shettima further recalled that President Tinubu was in Saint Lucia earlier in the year, as part of his broader package of reaching out to Caribbean-Africans in the diaspora.

    On his part, Dr Drew, who decried the low level of trade and contact between Caribbean countries and Africa, expressed the country’s readiness to work closely with Nigeria to boost trade on the African continent.

  • Shettima meets UN Chief, pushes Nigeria’s bid for permanent security council seat

    Shettima meets UN Chief, pushes Nigeria’s bid for permanent security council seat

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday met with United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, pressing Nigeria’s case for a Permanent Seat on the United Nations Security Council and deepening cooperation on democracy, humanitarian response, and sustainable development.

    Shettima, who is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 80th UN General Assembly, urged stronger backing from the UN for Nigeria’s global aspirations. 

    According to a statement  by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima, during the closed-door session, said “we are aspiring to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. We need the UN to support Nigeria even more so that we achieve more”.

    The Vice President and the Secretary-General also reviewed issues around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, and regional security, while reaffirming Nigeria’s partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, told journalists after the meeting that Guterres praised Nigeria’s assertive push for a Permanent Security Council seat. 

    He noted that the UN already maintains a strong operational presence in Nigeria, hosting several of its agencies in the country.

    Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, said the talks also touched on technology, with the UN chief expressing keen interest in Nigeria’s advances in artificial intelligence. 

    Tijani disclosed that Guterres welcomed Nigeria’s launch of the first government-backed multilingual and multimodal large language model in Africa. 

    “Even as we were leaving, he mentioned that he would love to see Nigeria support other African countries to ensure Africa is not left behind in artificial intelligence,” the minister said.

    The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, highlighted discussions on humanitarian challenges. 

    He briefed Guterres on Tinubu’s administration’s social protection programmes, including a national social register covering 18.9 million households and conditional cash transfers reaching 8.1 million Nigerians. 

    He added that inclusivity for persons with disabilities was also prioritised.

    Sununu, however, raised concerns over declining donor funding for UN organisations, noting that the World Food Programme currently supports about 1.3 million Nigerians with emergency food assistance. 

    He said the federal government was working to bridge the gap, while the UN pledged to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity and help secure more resources.

    “Generally, the Secretary-General thanked the Nigerian government, especially the President, for ongoing support to the United Nations and assured us that the UN will continue to support Nigeria’s wishes and aspirations,” Sununu said.

  • Fed govt unveils fresh incentives to boost agric investments, food security

    Fed govt unveils fresh incentives to boost agric investments, food security

    The Federal Government on Tuesday announced new incentives aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s vast food production potential and strengthening the nation’s agricultural value chain under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima, who made the disclosure in Abuja at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) National and Subregional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, said the initiatives were designed to expand irrigation, strengthen credit access, and create millions of rural jobs.

    According to him, while hunger poses a global security issue, Nigeria must mobilise its strengths to secure a future of abundance.

    “Nothing unifies humanity as much as hunger. It is the great equaliser that reveals our vulnerabilities and the shared fragility of our existence. Food is not merely a matter of survival; it is a matter of global security,” he said.

    The Vice President noted that the administration is introducing single-window platforms for land registration, strengthening agricultural credit systems, expanding irrigation infrastructure, and scaling mechanisation.

    “We must facilitate access to land and resources for serious investors. We must drive mechanisation to reduce drudgery and enhance productivity. We must strengthen the agricultural credit system to ensure capital flows to where it is needed most,” he said.

    Senator Shettima specifically observed that irrigation is a game-changer, noting that Nigeria has river basins and aquifers capable of irrigating over three million hectares but currently uses less than ten per cent.

    In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said, “strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks”.

    The Vice President also assured investors that Nigeria’s policies are being re-engineered to attract capital through regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships, and agri-tech innovation.

    “Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with you. Let us work hand-in-hand to build Nigeria and a subregion where no one goes to bed hungry, where rural communities are hubs of wealth creation, and where agriculture is the true foundation of our prosperity,” VP Shettima said.

    The Vice President further assured that Nigeria is open for business and ready to partner with relevant stakeholders and investors in implementing its national blueprint targeted at creating 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities, while securing national food and nutrition sufficiency.

    “The vehicle to this future is the quality of policies we have chosen to prioritise. At the top of these interventions stands our National Development Plan (2021–2025), which has set forth ambitious but achievable targets. 

    “This blueprint seeks to lift 35 million Nigerians out of poverty, create 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities, and secure national food and nutrition sufficiency through deliberate and strategic investments in agriculture,” he added. 

    Earlier, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made a presentation on Nigeria’s investment atmosphere and country profile, highlighting key challenges and potentials for investment across the agribusiness value chain.

    He said a combination of Nigeria’s domestic market, large arable land, clement weather, and fast-growing digital economy presents unique opportunities for investment across the agribusiness ecosystem.

    For his part, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, said the economic potential of Nigeria remains largely untapped, especially in agriculture and irrigation, which hold significant promise for economic diversification and transformation.

    He noted that agriculture, particularly agribusiness, remains a pivotal component of Nigeria’s national development plan in the medium and long term, as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

    For his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security of The Gambia, Dr Demba Sabally, commended the FAO for hosting the event and Nigeria’s leadership in agriculture, highlighting the country’s success stories in the rice and cassava value chains as worthy of emulation by countries in the sub-region and beyond.

    He emphasized the need for peer review among countries in the West African sub-region because of their common challenges and opportunities for growth and transformation.

    In the same vein, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, said the Hand-in-Hand Initiative is FAO’s “evidence-based, country-led, and country-owned flagship programme, designed to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development.”

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    He said the programme is squarely aimed at eradicating poverty, ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition, and reducing inequalities. It is our vehicle for achieving the SDGs.

    Commending Nigeria’s clear agricultural development priorities and describing them as catalysts for transformative and sustainable growth within Africa’s agri-food systems, Dr Gadain hailed Vice President Shettima’s genuine commitment and visionary leadership in transforming Nigeria’s agri-food systems.

    According to the FAO rep, the VP’s “passion for agriculture, food security, and nutrition is unmatched. He has been a driving force in attracting crucial investments and fostering innovation, and his continued engagement deserves our highest commendation.”

    Also, the Head of the EU Delegation in Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot, said the Hand-in-Hand Initiative reflects Nigeria’s strong commitment to strengthening food security and deepening investment across the agribusiness value chain.

    He declared that the EU remains Nigeria’s long-term partner in Nigeria’s agricultural journey and is committed to investing in value chain development in the country, starting with the recent investment of over 80 million euros to unlock opportunities in key value chains across 7 states.

    He said the EU stands ready to deepen collaboration with Nigeria as a partner to ensure irrigation becomes a pathway for economic growth and agricultural transformation.

  • Shettima: Nigeria open for investment as Tinubu’s reforms gain traction

    Shettima: Nigeria open for investment as Tinubu’s reforms gain traction

    Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reiterated that Nigeria remains open for investments and collaborations across all  sectors.

    He also said while receiving a delegation from VISA, the world’s second-largest card payment organisation, in Abuja yesterday, that the  Bola Ahmed Tinubu  administration  is  committed to transforming the  nation’s economy through bold reforms.

    At another event in Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF) George Akume listed transformational infrastructure, economic diversification, and job creation   as the core pillars of President Tinubu’s   Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The vice-president stated that the  reforms, though difficult, are yielding measurable results.

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    “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to change the face of our nation. Today, there is a great room for expansion in the Nigerian economy,’’ Shettima said in a statement by the  Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Mr. Stanley Nkwocha.

     He pointed out that the fact that Nigeria has ‘’eight out of the 10  unicorns in Africa’’  shows that the economic space is expanding.

     A unicorn is a start-up company valued at over $1 billion.  

     Shettima also listed  steady growth in foreign reserves, improvement in  tax administration and fiscal discipline as other gains of the reforms. 

      “The economy has picked up pace, we have crossed the rubicon, and we are on a path of sustainable growth.

    ‘’The tax reforms are gaining traction, we are restoring discipline to the system, and our foreign reserve is growing steadily,”   the Vice-President said.

    He commended VISA’s partnerships with local fintech companies and urged the company to leverage Nigeria’s vast unbanked population in its African expansion drive.

    According to him, digital payment systems hold the future of commerce on the continent, with the added advantage of promoting transparency and curbing corruption.

    VISA’s  Regional President for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA),   Tareq Muhmood, who led the delegation, lauded the reforms in the oil and gas sector,   foreign exchange regime and tax policy.

    Acknowledging that the  reforms have  stimulated renewed confidence in the Nigerian economy, he revealed that VISA plans to expand its footprint in the country and support programmes that directly impact lives  across various sectors.

    Others on the team were  VISA’s Senior Vice President and Head of Western and Central Africa, Aminata Kane; Vice President and Head of West Africa, Andrew Uaboi; and Senior Director and Head of Government Affairs, Chidozie Arinze.

    * $60bn integrated gas, power,  rail project underway

     Also yesterday, SGF Akume told Chinese investors in Abuja that their proposal to build a  $60 billion integrated gas, power and rail project in Nigeria aligns with  President Tinubu’s vision.

      De-Sadel (Nig.) Limited, in partnership with China Liancai Petroleum Investment Holdings Limited, is behind the plan.

     Already, a Financial Support Letter has been secured by them from the Asia Development and Investment Bank (ADIB). 

    “This project, with its integrated components of high-speed rail, power generation and transmission, LNG infrastructure, and digital backbone, resonates strongly with these priorities and offers immense opportunities for inclusive growth and national integration,” Akume said.

    He described the financing arrangement as “a reflection of the seriousness of purpose and ambition” behind the initiative.

    The SGF assured  the investors that his office would continue to coordinate engagements across relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure all financial, technical, legal and institutional requirements were addressed.

    He   added that   with the support of credible international investors and  the ongoing reforms in Nigeria, the Tinubu administration would  not shirk in  accelerating  infrastructure delivery and economic growth across the country.

  • Vice President gets kudos on turning 59

    Vice President gets kudos on turning 59

    A group, Renewed Hope United States of America, has felicitated Vice-President Kashim Shettima on his birthday.

    The body, in a statement by Chairman, Emeka Molokwu, Vice Chair, Dr Ismaila Maigyara, Deputy Chair, Fola Olumo and Secretary, Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye, said: ‘’We celebrate and thank Allah for the new year added by Vice President Shettima.

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    ‘’You have shown loyalty and leadership by supporting President Bola Tinubu to develop a sustainable economy.

    ‘’You have co-championed Renewed Hope Agenda, supported youth education, eliminate taxes for the poor, increased jobs, stabilised naira and uplifted Nigerians. We wish you a blessed birthday.’’