The Federal Government has pledged to create a more conducive environment for investment and collaboration in Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Minister of Livestock Development Idi Mukhtar Maiha made the commitment during a visit to CWAY Nigeria Dairy and Food Products Limited and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), in Ogun State.

Maiha said the government would work with state governments, private investors and other stakeholders to address challenges facing livestock businesses, promote investment, create jobs and improve food security. He also called for stronger research partnerships with FUNAAB, particularly in improved breeds, animal genetics, feed development, animal health, processing and value addition.

Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture Bolu Owotomo highlighted the state’s agricultural interventions, while CWAY reaffirmed its commitment to investing in Nigeria’s livestock and agricultural value chains.

FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olusola Kehinde assured the minister of the university’s readiness to collaborate with government and industry to advance livestock research and development.

-hallmarknews

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Nigeria can earn significantly more from its

 agricultural resources by expanding local processing and retaining greater value from commodities before they reach international markets, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has said.

The IFC made the assertion as it strengthened its collaboration with Johnvents Group to accelerate agricultural value addition in Nigeria, with emphasis on local processing, sustainable supply chains, infrastructure, technology, regional trade and access to global markets.

The engagement is aimed at strengthening the link between agricultural production and industrial processing, creating opportunities for more value from African commodities to be created and retained locally while improving the competitiveness of Nigerian products in international markets.

Speaking during the engagement, Olivier Buyoya, IFC Division Director for Nigeria and Central Africa, described Johnvents as an example of how private-sector investment could translate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda into tangible results.

“Johnvents Group shows how that agenda can translate into results: a reliable buyer connecting smallholders to markets, a processor expanding domestic value addition, and a Nigerian company investing in higher standards and long-term sustainability,” Buyoya said.

He also described Johnvents’ inaugural 2025 Sustainability Report, presented during the engagement, as “more than a corporate publication,” noting that it contributed to the broader ambitions of IFC’s AgriConnect initiative.

Prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the report details the group’s environmental, social and governance performance across its agricultural value chains, with emphasis on traceability, deforestation-free sourcing, climate governance, responsible sourcing, farmer capacity building and child labour prevention.

According to the report, Johnvents reached 40,000 farmers through structured capacity-building programmes during the reporting period, while 122,916 hectares of land were verified as deforestation-free, reflecting the group’s efforts to promote responsible and sustainable agricultural production.

Johnvents, which began as a cocoa-focused

 business, has since expanded into a diversified agribusiness and food manufacturing group with operations spanning cocoa, soybean, cashew, fast-moving consumer goods and other agricultural value chains.

Speaking on the company’s growth, the Founder and Group Managing Director of Johnvents Group, John Alamu, said the group currently operates 10 factories in Nigeria, has operations across 19 countries and maintains relationships with more than 40,000 farmers.

Alamu said the company’s integrated model, which spans agricultural sourcing, processing, manufacturing and international distribution, was designed to deepen local value creation while positioning African products for stronger competition in global markets.

He added that Johnvents’ sustainability journey had been strengthened by its ongoing collaboration with the IFC, including technical assistance in governance, environmental and social performance, institutional capacity, farmer training and traceability.

Through the collaboration, Johnvents is seeking to further connect agricultural production with processing and value-added manufacturing, with the broader objective of ensuring that more of the economic benefits generated from Africa’s agricultural resources are retained within the continent while opening greater access to regional and international markets.

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The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, says the prices of essential food commodities have reduced by up to 50 per cent across the country.

The Minister disclosed this on Monday in Maiduguri while declaring open the Community of Practice Meeting of Commissioners for Agriculture, Health, Environment and Rural Development in Borno State.

The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government and supported by Germany under the theme, “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria”.

Addressing participants, Kyari said President Bola Tinubu had placed food security at the centre of the national ag

He said, “Our responsibility is to translate that mandate into increased production, greater affordability, stronger rural economies and a more resilient food system.

“We have seen the reduction of up to 50 percent in prices of some essential food commodities, alongside expanded input delivery, investment in rural Infrastructure and support to smallholder farmers he said.

Kyari emphasised that the prices of Items have significantly dropped when compared to what they were prior to 2023.

“Let’s be honest, how much was a bag of rice and maize in 2023, and how much is it now? What is the percentage? Let us not play politics with these things,” he added.

The Minister however noted that the summit will take into account  the  Kampala  Comprehensive, African, Development Program Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2035.

“The Kampala framework takes a broader agrifood systems approach, with priorities spanning sustainable production, investment and finance, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, resilience and stronger governance,” Kyari said.

“For a country of Nigeria’s scale, the choices we make in agriculture have consequences beyond our borders, for regional markets, Africa’s wider agrifood transformation and Nigeria’s place in the global food economy.

“Nigeria has developed and validated a 10-Year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan as the vehicle for domesticating these commitments,” he noted.

He emphasized that the summit provides an important sub-national mechanism for taking that declaration into implementation.

“I therefore urge our deliberations here in Borno to focus firmly on implementation. States should leave this meeting clearer on how their action plans will advance the Kampala commitments and align with national priorities across rural infrastructure, extension, credit and quality inputs, labour-saving technologies, post-harvest loss reduction and climate-resilient agriculture,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Nigeria, Dr Karin Jansen, assured that Germany will continue to support  Nigeria through strengthening of agricultural policy processes, scaling successful approaches and strengthening civil society participation.

“Through the Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies project – AgSys, German Development Cooperation supports Nigerian partners in strengthening agricultural policy processes, scaling successful approaches and strengthening civil society participation.

“Our aim is simple: to strengthen existing structures and help turn national commitments into action where it matters most. Ultimately, the success of the Kampala Agenda will be measured by the results it delivers: better policies, stronger institutions, effective investments and tangible improvements in people’s lives,” she stressed.

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The Federal Government says Nigeria’s annual wheat production has risen from 120,000 metric tonnes to 420,000 metric tonnes through the implementation of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP).

The government said the scheme is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Prof. Ademola Adenle, Senior Special Adviser on Agriculture and Innovation to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday while reviewing achievements in the sector.

NAN reports that NAGS-AP is a flagship project of the Federal Government aimed at bridging food supply gaps and achieving national food sovereignty by providing subsidised high-quality agricultural inputs directly to smallholder farmers.

Adenle said the initiative was designed to help farmers access the inputs needed to boost productivity.

According to him, the sector is focused on ensuring that farmers have access to critical inputs.

He identified fertilisers, improved seeds and essential extension services as key components of transforming the agricultural sector.

“We have implemented NAGS-AP under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, has commended Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for investments in agriculture and livestock development.

Maiha said the Federal Government is prioritising feed and fodder development, breed improvement and modern livestock centres to increase local production, reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported dairy products and create jobs.

He also urged states to use public-private partnerships to establish modern abattoirs and proposed livestock development centres along the Sokoto-Badagry Highway.

Governor Bago called for the reactivation of the Lagos-Kano-Jibia railway corridor to improve livestock transportation, reduce losses and ease farmer-herder conflicts.

Bago also highlighted L-PRES support in Niger State, including an agreement for Niger Foods to supply 200 cattle daily to an Abuja abattoir, with about 20,000 direct and indirect jobs projected.

-authorityngr

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Oyo State Government has clarified its position on the botched maize export arrangement with the Government of Botswana.

The government stated that the decision to pull back was driven by data analysis and the need to protect Oyo State farmers.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the clarification is contained in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

It stated that the Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration had, in its first term, explored a bilateral deal with Botswana to guarantee off-take and foreign exchange earnings for local farmers.

“However, comprehensive studies conducted by the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) revealed that the economics of large-scale maize export were not viable,” it stated.

The statement stressed that the decision was not a withdrawal from international agricultural engagement, but a strategic pivot to more profitable value chains like cassava.

It listed the state’s agribusiness achievements under Makinde’s administration to include the ongoing Ijaye Agribusiness Industrial Hub, the establishment of OYSADA, and the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Park.

The park, it said, is recognised by the African Development Bank as Nigeria’s first Agricultural Transformation Centre.

The government also cited improved rural security through Amotekun, rural road projects and the Light Up Oyo initiative as measures taken to reduce post-harvest losses.

It added that Oyo State’s early domestication of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol has positioned the state for broader continental trade beyond a single bilateral deal.

The statement asserted that the administration’s decisions reflected a clear approach to build a sustainable agricultural economy anchored on data, competitiveness, and long-term value.

NAN

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The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and NHYPPADEC have agreed to explore collaboration to boost livestock production, rural livelihoods and economic opportunities across NHYPPADEC’s 10 operational states.

Livestock Development Minister Idi Mukhtar proposed a joint committee to develop a framework for cooperation in livestock production, water access, pasture development, capacity building and rural empowerment.

NHYPPADEC Managing Director Abubakar Yelwa said the commission had already implemented interventions in poultry, animal husbandry and small-ruminant production, and expressed readiness to expand collaboration through community livestock farms, feed formulation, pasture development, farmers’ training and water projects.

The commission also proposed pilot livestock projects in selected communities across its member states, involving state governments, with opportunities for financing, technical support and youth and women empowerment.

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Suspected Boko Haram terrorists reportedly killed 15 farmers and firewood gatherers in Ala and Musune wards of Marte Local Government Area, Borno State.

The victims were allegedly ambushed on their farms on Wednesday. Police confirmed that 15 people were killed, while three of the 18 people who went to the farms remain missing.

The Borno State Police Command said security forces were searching for the missing persons and gathering more information about the attack.

Amnesty International condemned the killings, describing the targeting of civilians as a grave violation of international humanitarian law and calling on Nigerian authorities to strengthen protection for vulnerable communities in the region.

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The federal ministry of education, in collaboration with Agribusiness Management and Rural Development Co. Ltd., on Friday flagged off the training of 900 youths from communities across Oyo State.

The training focused on catering and hospitality management, crop protection and processing, computer hardware and phone repairs, livestock production, fisheries and aquaculture.

The participants in the third batch of the training are between the ages of 15 and 35.

Chidiebere Ihuoma, representing the national project coordinator of the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project, said the training was to create opportunities.

Ms Ihuoma said the IDEAS Project is to build human capital, strengthen Nigeria’s technical and vocational education ecosystem, and equip young people with the practical skills they need to participate meaningfully in the economy.

“The IDEAS Project, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education with the support of the World Bank, has continued to demonstrate that skills development is a powerful pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

“In its objective to strengthen technical vocational education and training in Nigeria, the project has made critical investments in infrastructure, equipment, human capacity development and skills training.

“We have witnessed the renovation and equipping of workshops across technical colleges, the provision of essential facilities and equipment, and the strengthening of institutions and regulators responsible for delivering technical and vocational education,” she said.

She added that the project had also supported the upskilling of 4,000 technical teachers and instructors, recognising that quality training requires competent and well-equipped trainers.

She, however, advised the youths to use the training as a turning point in their lives.

“The outcome will depend largely on your commitment. Ask questions and practice what you are taught,” she said.

Muhammed Atanda, the rxecutive director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), said the training represented an important investment in human capital development.

Mr Atanda said that in a rapidly changing economy, acquiring practical, relevant and industry-driven skills was essential to preparing youths for meaningful employment, entrepreneurship and productive participation in economic development.

“NIHORT’s mandate is to conduct research into genetic improvement, production, processing, storage, utilisation and marketing of tropical fruits, vegetables, spices and ornamental plants of both nutritional and economic importance.

“We particularly recognise the enormous potential of technical and vocational skills in transforming the agricultural and horticultural sectors. It is a fact that horticulture offers significant opportunities for employment and wealth creation across the value chain, from production and nursery management to processing, packaging, marketing, value addition and agribusiness development.

“Equipping young people with practical skills in these areas can contribute significantly to food security, enterprise development and sustainable livelihoods,” he said.

Mr Atanda said the initiative’s success would depend not only on the training but also on the ability to create pathways for beneficiaries to apply their skills.

Folasade Adeboyejo of the Agribusiness Management and Rural Development Co. Ltd. said the programme was designed to strengthen practical skills development and improve access to relevant technical and vocational competencies.

According to Ms Adeboyejo, the programme responds to the growing need for skilled human resources capable of contributing to employment, entrepreneurship, enterprise development and local economic growth.

She added that the programme was designed to offer a range of practical skills training that are relevant to the local economy.

According to her, ultimately the training isn’t only about acquiring certificates but developing competent individuals who can apply their skills to create products, provide services, establish enterprises and generate sustainable income.

A trainee in crop production and processing, Reuben Olayiwola, said he has so far learnt how to go about crop production and process finished products.

“I know how to handle everything from produce to products. We have already spent three months out of the six months allocated for the training,” he said.

A livestock farming trainee, Elizabeth Erinfolami, said the training has helped her in many ways she could not have imagined.

Ms Erinfolami said that before the training, she didn’t have much knowledge about poultry.

“What prompted me to focus on poultry is that I saw that it is deeper than I thought,” she said.

(NAN)

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The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has partnered with the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) to provide financing for 400,000 farmers preparing for the 2026 dry-season farming season.

Under BOA’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund (RH-SSVCF), the programme will finance agricultural inputs, irrigation toolkits and related equipment to help farmers sustain production beyond the rainy season.

AFAN will identify credible farmers and suitable Farmer Aggregation Companies (FACs), while BOA will conduct verification, due diligence and credit assessments before approving financing.

BOA Managing Director Ayo Sotinrin said the initiative would support year-round production, improve farmers’ incomes and strengthen Nigeria’s food supply by reducing dependence on rainfall.

-TheNation Newspaper

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