FG, IFAD sign $158m deal to boost agriculture

…Move to tackle poverty in Northern Nigeria

The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a $158.15 million financing agreement to kick-start the Value Chain Programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN), a transformative agricultural initiative aimed at reducing poverty, boosting food security, and empowering vulnerable communities across nine northern states.

The deal, signed on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, brings together funding and technical support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the Government of Nigeria.

This was stated in a release by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President).

The project which is expected to last for the period of eight-years will begin with immediate implementation in Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vice President Kashim Shettima described the initiative as a critical step toward restoring the dignity of Nigerian farmers and fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s promise to uplift rural communities.

“This is not just an investment in agriculture—it’s an investment in people, productivity, and prosperity,” Shettima said. “It is a declaration of faith in the North—not as a region of deficits, but as a place of abundance.”

The VCN programme targets key crops like wheat and maize while strengthening the region’s agribusiness ecosystem through irrigation, processing, storage, and digital infrastructure.

It will also support underserved populations—including women, youth, returnees, and persons with disabilities—through inclusive financing and entrepreneurial training.

Shettima emphasized that the programme aligns with ongoing Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) by supplying raw materials to processors, ultimately shifting Nigeria from raw exports to value-added agricultural goods.

“The VCN answers the call to grow what we eat and produce what we trade,” he added, citing recent global trade disruptions as a warning for Nigeria to become self-reliant in food production.

IFAD Country Director, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, said the project will reach over 3.1 million people and generate more than 30,000 jobs across the nine states.

She noted that the initiative will use climate-smart technologies, improve post-harvest systems, and provide financial access to youth and women entrepreneurs. Over 229km of rural roads will also be built to improve market access.

Key stakeholders, including governors of Borno, Jigawa, and Katsina States, ministers, members of the National Assembly, and international development partners, praised the programme’s scope and pledged support for its implementation.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, described the deal as a milestone in achieving the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The event concluded with the formal signing of the joint roadmap for accelerated implementation between Nigeria and IFAD.