Olushola Omogbehin
The Federal Government has announced the provision of incentives to attract agricultural investment and other reforms that will expand irrigation, improve access to credit as well as creation of rural jobs under President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda.
Vice President Kashim Shettima announced this on Tuesday during the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) National and Sub-regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum where he represented the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Vice President explained that the initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda with the aim to unlock Nigeria’s vast food production ability through clear reforms and policy frameworks. He described the policies as “a game-changer” for both agriculture and infrastructure investment.
He said Nigeria has the capacity to irrigate more than three million hectares of farmland, but currently uses less than 10 per cent of that potential.
“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks.
“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.
According to him, the Federal Government is committed to repositioning agriculture as the backbone of economic growth, job creation and food security. He said that the new incentives would attract both local and international investors into Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The FAO Hand-in-Hand Forum is designed to accelerate investments in agriculture through collaboration with governments, development institutions and the private sector.
