By Abbas Nazil & Abdullahi Lukman
The African Union (AU) and Nigeria are working together to revitalize agriculture and boost food production across Africa through the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP).
Adopted by AU heads of state in 2003, CAADP serves as a continental framework to accelerate growth and transformation in Africa’s agricultural sector.
Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted this collaboration at the validation workshop for the 2022–2024 Agricultural Joint Sector Review Report and the 3rd National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan (2025–2027) held in Abuja.
The workshop focused on evaluating Nigeria’s progress against AU agricultural goals.
Ogunbiyi described CAADP as a transformative initiative aimed at achieving food security, reducing poverty, and driving economic growth by targeting a 6% growth rate and dedicating 10% of national budgets to agriculture.
He urged stakeholders to adopt CAADP as a blueprint for empowering farmers, enhancing food security, and fostering sustainable economic development.
Nigeria has committed significant investments, including the launch of Special Agro-Processing Zones in Kaduna, Cross River, and Oyo states to boost production, enhance commodity value chains, create jobs, and reduce post-harvest losses.
These efforts also aim to promote inclusivity and resilience within the agricultural sector.
Ibrahim Tanimu, Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, emphasized the critical role of agriculture in Nigeria’s economy and food security, calling for collaborative solutions to strengthen agricultural frameworks continent-wide.
Blessing Akhile, Food and Agriculture Programme Advisor at ActionAid Nigeria, underscored the importance of the validation workshop in promoting ownership and accountability.
She reaffirmed support for inclusive agricultural policies addressing the needs of smallholder farmers, especially women and youth.
The National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan aligns with AU commitments under the Malabo Declaration (ending 2025) and the upcoming Kampala Declaration (starting 2026), aiming to transform Nigeria’s agrifood system for greater resilience and sustainability.
