Agric show: Stakeholders ask FG to remove ‘production bottlenecks’

Farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders at the ongoing 17th National Agricultural Show have urged the federal government to address longstanding production bottlenecks and scale up investments to boost productivity in the sector. The annual show, organised by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and […]

Farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders at the ongoing 17th National Agricultural Show have urged the federal government to address longstanding production bottlenecks and scale up investments to boost productivity in the sector.

The annual show, organised by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, opened yesterday at KM 28 on the Abuja–Keffi Expressway.

Speaking at the event, stakeholders described agriculture as central to Nigeria’s survival and economic future, calling on government at all levels to intensify support for farmers and value-chain actors.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the National Agricultural Foundation, Architect Kabiru Ibrahim, stressed the urgency of restructuring Nigeria’s agricultural systems to position the country as a continental food hub.

“It’s a wake-up call to all farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain, and to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Over the last decade, we have faced bottlenecks in production—ranging from insecurity and climate change to low mechanisation. These are real challenges that require close attention,” he said.

Ibrahim acknowledged federal initiatives such as the Kampala Declaration (2025–2036) and partnerships with the UN, GIZ, and other development organisations, but insisted that more decisive action was needed.

“Agriculture is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, yet we neglected it once oil was discovered. We must double our efforts in production and expand processing capacity so we stop exporting raw commodities only to import them back as finished goods. Nigeria should be a hub for value-added agricultural products,” he said.

Delivering his goodwill message, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, represented by Dr Shuaibu Abdullahi, highlighted the conglomerate’s decade-long investments across the agricultural value chain. These, he said, target inputs, processing, and large-scale backward integration.

“Our fertiliser plant in Lagos, now Africa’s largest granulated urea facility, supplies millions of tons of affordable, high-quality inputs to farmers nationwide,” he said. “Similarly, our sugar projects in Nasarawa and Adamawa—covering over 100,000 hectares—are designed to strengthen industrial raw material supply and create thousands of jobs.”

He added that Dangote Group’s ongoing investments in rice processing are intended to secure offtake and expand local value chains. The company is developing rice milling plants in Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Kebbi, and Sokoto, with a combined milling capacity of 1.5 million tons annually.

“These are significant investments aimed at reducing import dependence, stabilising input markets, and guaranteeing a ready buyer for smallholder farmers’ produce,” he stated.

Declaring the show open, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, represented by the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Dr Bukar Musa, said the event comes at a critical moment for national development.

He noted that agriculture continues to employ millions, sustain rural livelihoods, and contribute significantly to national GDP—remaining essential to food security, economic stability, and sustainable growth.