Kyari Pushes Private-Sector-Driven Agric Growth as FAO, EBRD Eye New Investments in Nigeria

|By Adejumo Adekunle

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has reaffirmed that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation hinges on stronger private-sector participation, saying it will drive investment, spur innovation and expand inclusive growth across the food system.

Kyari made the remarks when a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), led by Alessandro Marini, Chief of the FAO Investment Centre for West and Central Africa, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

The minister said the Federal Government is building a more predictable, investment-friendly environment by strengthening policies and regulatory frameworks to reduce risks for agribusiness investors. He noted that earlier engagements with development partners—including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)—showed shared agreement that the private sector remains “the primary engine of growth.”

Kyari told the FAO team that the session would allow directors, technical teams and private-sector partners to present real investment prospects across key value chains, backed by the work of the National Agricultural Development Fund, a three-year-old institution created to boost agricultural financing and innovation.

He explained that discussions covered priority investment areas and emerging partnerships capable of delivering measurable impact. He added that government stands ready to support FAO and EBRD’s next steps, praising the FAO Investment Centre for expanding its presence with a new Lagos office.

Kyari said the visit aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems and accelerate the journey toward food sovereignty. Nigeria, he noted, remains a promising agricultural market driven by a youthful, fast-growing population projected by the World Bank to hit 400 million by 2050.

FAO’s Marini assured that the organisation will work closely with the Federal Government to unlock agribusiness financing and support the country’s economic diversification agenda.