Our Correspondent
Abuja, Nigeria — In a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s food systems and guiding its agricultural future, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has officially launched the 2025 Nigeria Food and Agriculture Policy Monitoring Review (PMR).
The unveiling, held in Abuja, convened high-level stakeholders including senior government officials, representatives of the World Bank, private sector leaders, development partners, farmer groups, civil society, and academia. The event served as a strategic forum to discuss Nigeria’s path towards evidence-based agricultural reform under the framework of the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).
The PMR, developed with technical backing from FAO’s Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme, provides a data-rich analysis of public expenditure trends and commodity price incentives. This multi-year review is poised to become a critical tool for enhancing decision-making, prioritising investments, and shaping effective reforms in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
Timing and Significance
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasised the timeliness of the report. He noted that the Federal Government is currently preparing the 2026 national budget, making this review an essential guide for strategic resource allocation across sectors.
“We must secure our future through food security. Increasing yields and improving nutrition are central to our agenda,” Kyari said. “The MAFAP analysis provides policymakers and development partners with a clear direction for targeted investments and impactful reforms.”
The minister reaffirmed the alignment of the PMR with the administration’s key priorities and expressed confidence that the data-driven recommendations would help drive sustainable growth in food production and rural livelihoods.
Shared Commitment to Agricultural Transformation
FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, highlighted the strength of the partnership between FAO and the Nigerian government, describing the policy review as a landmark in the nation’s agricultural development journey.
“This review reflects our shared commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The evidence and recommendations presented will serve as a foundation for inclusive growth, improved food security, and sustainable development,” Gadain stated.
He added that key actions identified in the report were developed through stakeholder consultations and aligned with government priorities, ensuring that proposed reforms are both relevant and achievable.
Strengthening Agricultural Governance
Nigeria’s agricultural sector remains central to its economic diversification goals and food security agenda. However, persistent challenges—including inconsistent policy implementation, underinvestment, and climate-related risks—have hampered progress.
The 2025 PMR offers a credible roadmap to address these barriers by promoting accountability, aligning public spending with growth targets, and encouraging private sector participation. Through this effort, Nigeria hopes to build a more resilient, inclusive, and productive agricultural sector that can meet both domestic needs and global demands.
As the country prepares for the next budget cycle, the review is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping transformative policies that not only improve food systems but also empower smallholder farmers and agribusinesses across the value chain.
