FG Orders Unified Agriculture Budgeting to Drive Food Security, End Duplication

The Federal Government has announced a major policy shift aimed at overhauling how public funds are invested in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, directing all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), alongside state governments, to align their annual budgets with a single national framework.

The directive follows the unveiling of Nigeria’s National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035), developed to implement the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration.

Speaking at the National Validation Meeting on the strategy in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the new framework is designed to eliminate fragmented spending, improve coordination among government institutions, and ensure agricultural investments produce measurable results.

According to Kyari, the strategy will serve as the country’s roadmap for strengthening food systems, boosting food sovereignty, and transforming agriculture into a more productive, resilient and inclusive sector.

He explained that the initiative builds on previous continental commitments under the Maputo Declaration (2003) and the Malabo Declaration (2014) while expanding its focus beyond food production to include processing, marketing, nutrition, climate resilience and value chain development.

The minister said the blueprint was developed through consultations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, ensuring it reflects the country’s diverse agricultural landscape—from livestock production in the North and aquaculture in the South to cassava, yam, cocoa and oil palm-producing regions.

Kyari stressed that every government agency and state must ensure future agricultural programmes and budget allocations are aligned with the strategy.

He warned against allowing the document to become another policy without implementation, insisting that every intervention in the agricultural sector should support the priorities outlined in the framework.

“The Kampala Declaration is not just a continental commitment. It is a roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s agrifood system into one that is resilient, inclusive, productive and industrialised,” he said.

The minister added that the strategy introduces a harmonised implementation framework with clearly defined responsibilities, timelines and accountability measures. It also integrates the CAADP Biennial Review indicators into Nigeria’s planning, budgeting and reporting processes to strengthen performance monitoring.

Among the key issues the plan seeks to address are climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, post-harvest losses, market instability and other long-standing challenges affecting agricultural productivity.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, said the strategy aligns Nigeria’s agricultural agenda with Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the CAADP Kampala Declaration.

He noted that it also complements ongoing reforms in mechanisation, irrigation, digital agriculture, value chain development and private sector participation.

Ogunbiyi said the validation process is expected to strengthen implementation mechanisms, improve coordination among institutions and identify gaps before the strategy is fully rolled out.

He added that achieving the plan’s objectives would require sustained political commitment, adequate funding, effective monitoring and strong collaboration across all levels of government.

According to him, the government’s long-term vision is to build an agricultural system that is productive, climate-smart, technology-driven and market-oriented while creating opportunities for young Nigerians and ensuring food remains accessible and affordable nationwide.