Committed to the first phase of its Special AgroIndustrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program, Nigeria is boldly transforming its agricultural landscape by spending more than $538 million.
Furthermore, the nation has revealed a youth-driven ten-year Strategic Action Plan (2026–2035) meant to unleash agricultural economic potential by innovation, infrastructure, and inclusive financing.
At a high-level panel at the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed the primary policy implementation.
Designed in collaboration with foreign institutions like the African Development Bank, IFAD, and the Islamic Development Bank, the SAPZ project seeks to boost production, minimize postharvest losses, and generate long-term agrobased jobs.
Shettima says that the SAPZ project has already provided more than 785,000 jobs and is anticipated to draw $1 billion in investment by 2027, hence reducing postharvest losses by up to 80%. He underlined the importance of this agricultural revolution for national economic recovery and food security policy.
Nigeria’s renewed focus on agriculture includes the activation of over 500,000 hectares of arable land, the release of strategic food reserves, extended access to farming inputs, and more powerful extension services.
These initiatives seek to lessen increasing food prices and hunger in both metropolitan and rural areas given the country’s declaration of a Food Security State of Emergency.
Still a major problem, security is the focus of government reforms aimed at guaranteeing farmers can cultivate their land without trepidation.
Shettima further urged global and regional collaboration to reclaim the Lake Chad Basin and fund sustainable irrigation as well as a national farm database to boost efficiency and planning.
Nigeria’s youth is a fundamental pillar of this agricultural transformation. Emphasizing the need of including young people prominently in agricultural development, not only as beneficiaries but also as architects of tomorrow.
Driving the implementation of this youth-centered action plan, the newly formed Agricultural Sector Working Group and Technical Committee will guarantee national coordination and promote publicprivate cooperation.
Nigeria has recapitalized the Bank of Agriculture with ₦1.5 trillion (roughly $1 billion) to support this vision, therefore allowing young farmers and agrientrepreneurs to get loans up to ₦1 million. This project aims to transform agriculture from subsistence farming to commercial, therefore increasing resilience and job creation.
Through the Youth in Agribusiness Initiative, continuous collaborations with the Netherlands, CGIAR, and IITA target ten thousand young Nigerians—up to half of them women—with specialized training hubs concentrated on poultry, aquaculture, horticulture, and cassava processing.
Among additional investments is the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project with Brazil that supports year-round farming and improves agricultural value chains.
Nigeria has already deployed 2,000 tractors as part of a $70 million rollout, targeting 550,000 hectares of farmland and an equal number of homes, with intentions to scale up to 10,000 tractors in association with John Deere.
Looking ahead, the 10Year Action Plan will emphasize agroprocessing, mechanization, mentoring, and technology adoption, with effective systems for impact monitoring and assessment already in place.
Shettima defined this project as a relay of generational duty, urging for unity, strategic cooperation, and a common will to improve Nigeria’s food systems.
