Nigeria backs strong public-private partnerships to transform agrifood systems — Kyari
Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, has emphasised that strategic and robust public–private collaboration remains key to driving innovation, increasing production, and attracting sustainable investments to strengthen agrifood systems across the Sahel region.
Kyari made the remarks during a high-level panel discussion at the FAO Hand-in-Hand Sahel Regional Initiative held recently in Rome, Italy. The forum focused on accelerating capacity, partnerships, and investments to transform agrifood systems in the region.
According to the minister, the Sahel region must leverage strong institutions, innovative financing, effective governance, and private sector partnerships to unlock the full potential of farmers, processors, and agribusinesses.
He maintained that such collaboration would revolutionise the agricultural ecosystem and ensure food and nutrition security.
Highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing reforms, Kyari outlined several flagship programmes aimed at enhancing private sector participation. These include: National Agrifood System Investment Plan (NASIP), Streamlining Incentives, Expansion of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ): from eight to twenty-seven states and the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST) designed to address the country’s ₦3.5 trillion annual postharvest losses by improving storage, cold chain, and warehousing systems.
“The pathway to upscaling is through effective implementation,” Kyari stated. “Implementation is not an abstract idea — it requires due diligence, smart governance, and unwavering political will.”
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment, Kyari said the ministry is focused on aligning policy with possibility — turning investment pledges into concrete projects that create jobs, feed families,and empower communities.
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He added that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government is committed to creating an enabling environment for investors to thrive alongside farmers.
Kyari further pledged to strengthen partnerships with FAO, IFAD, the African Development Bank, the World Bank Group, ECOWAS, and the private sector to deliver tangible outcomes that enhance food sovereignty and transform agrifood systems.
