The African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), has released a new report advocating innovative and coordinated investments to strengthen food security in northern Nigeria.
Titled “Investing in Innovative Food Systems Solutions in Challenging Contexts,” the report offers a roadmap for revitalizing agriculture in regions affected by conflict and fragility. It identifies priority crops, investment areas, and strategies to rebuild livelihoods and promote inclusive agricultural transformation.
Launched during the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, the report highlights the need for market-led solutions, climate-smart agriculture, and public–private partnerships to move communities beyond emergency aid toward sustainable recovery. Key crops identified include sorghum, millet, maize, wheat, cowpeas, soybeans, groundnuts, and tomatoes.
Government officials and traditional leaders, including Minister of Agriculture Senator Abubakar Kyari and Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, emphasized the importance of local storage solutions, value chain strengthening, and private-sector investment to drive long-term resilience.
Abdul Kamara, AfDB’s Nigeria Director General, said reviving agriculture is crucial for food sovereignty, job creation, and economic stability. Dr. Steven Were Omamo of IFPRI added that evidence-based investments could maximize impact and resilience.
The AfDB’s agricultural portfolio in Nigeria currently totals nearly $900 million through initiatives like the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) and the National Agriculture Growth Scheme (NAGS), supporting productivity, value addition, and market access across the country’s agricultural sector.
Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
