Vice President Shettima Urges Private Sector Support for Agricultural Transformation in Nigeria

Vice President Kashim Shettima recently called on the private sector, including financial institutions, to support the Federal Government’s drive to transform agricultural production and improve the welfare of Nigerians.

The Vice President emphasized the need to engage small-holder farmers with the view to increasing their productivity as part of measures towards achieving the country’s food security objectives.

During a courtesy visit by a consortium of mid-sized agriculture companies at the presidential villa, Abuja, Shettima commended the efforts of the young entrepreneurs, particularly in “seeking practical solutions to challenges confronting the nation.”

He also restated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stimulate growth in the Nigerian economy, regardless of the challenges.

The Vice President highlighted the importance of collaboration with the private sector to turn agriculture into a business and dramatically change the economic landscape of Nigeria, a country he believes is endowed with abundant resources and should not be poor.

The leader of the delegation and Chief Executive Officer of AFEX, Akinyinka Akintunde, pledged the group’s support for the government’s programmes and policies in the agricultural sector.

The consortium, which is a group of mid-sized agricultural companies in Nigeria, proposed an initiative to support two million farmers across four value chains (Rice, Maize, Sorghum, and Soyabeans) to enhance sustainable agriculture and ensure the success of the food security drive of the Federal Government.

To achieve this, the consortium plans to engage and collaborate with key stakeholders, including the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), and farmer aggregation companies.

The proposed initiative also includes linking farmers to markets and enriching the government’s grain reserves across the country with assorted commodities, all in a bid to boost the food security targets of the administration.

This collaboration between the government and the private sector is crucial to transforming Nigeria’s agricultural production and achieving food security.

As the Vice President stated, “Leadership is actually about challenges and we are mindful of them.

We want collaboration from the private sector to turn agriculture into a business and dramatically change our economic landscape.”