MARGARETH CHIDERA
NIGERIA: The Federal Government is seeking to attract large-scale private investment into agricultural projects in areas affected by insecurity, with initial plans targeting soybean production in Yobe State and sugarcane cultivation in Jigawa State.
The initiative is designed to address the security concerns that have discouraged investors from committing funds to commercial agriculture in parts of the country, while reviving farming activities and expanding domestic food production.
The programme involves the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Integranium Holdings and the Defence Agricultural Assets and Projects Development Company (DAPCO), with support from Defence Holding Company Limited.
The partners are developing an investment framework that combines private capital mobilisation, security planning and project management to make large-scale agricultural ventures more attractive to domestic and international investors.
The proposed soybean and sugarcane projects are among several agricultural opportunities identified under the arrangement.
Nigeria’s agricultural production has been constrained by insecurity, particularly in communities where farmers face attacks, abductions, displacement and restrictions on access to their farmlands.
The consequences extend beyond the immediate loss of lives and property. Disrupted farming activities reduce crop output, weaken agricultural supply chains, affect agro-processing industries and increase pressure on food prices.
The investment initiative is therefore seeking to address a major obstacle to agricultural expansion by incorporating security considerations into commercial farm development.
Managing Director of MOFI’s investment partner, Armstrong Takang, said the programme could help Nigeria make better use of its agricultural resources while creating opportunities for businesses supplying inputs and services to farmers.
He said the country needed to maximise its land, water resources and human capital to meet domestic food requirements and generate additional supplies for export.
The partnership has also identified the potential availability of between 30 million and 35 million hectares of land for agricultural development.
Air Vice Marshal A.V. Ndache, Group Managing Director of Defence Holding Company Limited, said a memorandum of understanding signed by the participating institutions provided a broad framework covering agriculture, hospitality and other investment opportunities.
However, specific projects will require further agreements and detailed structuring before implementation.
The proposed arrangement could provide a new investment model for agricultural development in areas where conventional commercial farming has been discouraged by security risks.
But its success will depend on more than attracting investors.
The government and its partners will need to guarantee sustained protection for farming communities, establish transparent land arrangements, provide infrastructure and ensure that smallholder farmers are not excluded from the emerging commercial opportunities.
The projects will also need clear financing structures, production targets and credible implementation timelines to move beyond investment proposals.
For Nigeria, where insecurity has increasingly become an economic challenge, restoring confidence in agricultural investment could be critical to expanding food production, creating rural employment and strengthening the country’s food supply chains.
