The Federal Government on Wednesday signed
a financing agreement for the Value Chain Programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN),
as part of ongoing efforts to revolutionise the nation’s agriculture sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that with the
signing of the agreement, the implementation of the 158.15 million dollars VCN
project begins immediately to support agriculture value chain development.
It will also support value addition for farmers in
nine states of the northern part of the country.
The initiative is co-funded by the International Fund
for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the French Development Agency (AFD) and
the Government of Nigeria.
Speaking during the signing of the agreement for the
VCN project at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Vice-President Kashim Shettima
described the initiative as a product of critical thinking about the economic
reality of the northern region.
According to him, it is a fulfilment of the promise
made by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to reduce poverty in Nigeria,
restore dignity to the nation’s farmers, and ensure food security.
“It is a declaration of faith in the North—not as a
region of deficits, but as a place of abundance.
“It also invites us to play our part in fulfilling the
promise to reduce poverty, nourish our people, and restore dignity to farming
families across Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Yobe, and
Zamfara.
“What has brought us together today is an investment
of 158.15 million dollars, co-financed by the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD),
the Federal Government of Nigeria, and other stakeholders.
” This reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s
commitment to prioritising what matters most—people, productivity, and
prosperity.”
Shettima recalled that Tinubu administration recently
commenced foundation laying for the construction of Special Agro-Industrial
Processing Zones (SAPZs) across Nigeria.
He said the VCN programme would feed into the SAPZs,
serving as “a steady pipeline of raw materials and ensuring our processors no
longer grope for quality inputs.
“This synergy will shift us from exporting raw produce
to exporting value-added goods—creating jobs, wealth, and industrial
stability,” he added.
Shettima said that the recent global trade disruptions
and the resurgence of protectionism are loud warnings to Nigeria to begin to
grow what its people eat and produce what they trade.
“The agricultural tariffs and retaliatory postures of
global powers like the U.S. and China have rattled commodity chains.
” For a nation that has long relied on food imports,
the message is clear: we must grow what we eat and produce what we trade. The
VCN answers this call.
” By making wheat, maize, and animal feed viable for
commercial cultivation, and by investing in irrigation, processing, and storage
facilities in states like Kebbi and Jigawa.
” We are not just securing food—we are laying the
groundwork for agricultural exports that can rival our oil. What makes this
programme exceptional is that it targets the underserved: women, youth, persons
with disabilities, and returnees.
“It recognises that peace and prosperity are twin
goals—and that in communities scarred by conflict, agriculture is not just a
livelihood; it is rehabilitation.”
He noted that the federal government will deploy
digital tools to track every step from farmer registration to market access and
input distribution to yield analysis.
Shettima assured that in regions where migration and
insecurity are fuelled by joblessness, the VCN provides vehicles for
enterprise, income, and dignity.
Earlier, former Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan,
commended IFAD, the federal government and other partners for the conception of
the programme.
He described the programme as a well-thought-out
initiative that will transform the lives and livelihoods of many in the target
states and beyond.
He pledged the commitment and support of the National
Assembly in the implementation of the various interventions contained in the
programme.
Also, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security,
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the signing of the financing agreement represents a
significant milestone in the efforts to transform the agricultural landscape in
Nigeria.
He noted that the participation of the nine states and
the presence of other critical stakeholders underscore the commitment of the
sub-nationals and the federal government in fostering inclusivity in
agricultural development.
The minister expressed confidence that the VCN will
deliver programmes and projects that will improve agricultural productivity and
the overall well-being of small-holder farmers, farmer groups, and women across
the region.
On his part, Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina applauded the
leadership provided by President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima, in the
implementation of the VCN programme and other schemes across northern Nigeria.
Similarly, Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa pledged
commitment and support in the actualisation of the objectives of the various
components of the programme.
He urged the implementers to review the design and
timeline for implementation to enable states to maximize the benefits therein.
The Country Director of IFAD, Mrs Dede Ekoue, said the
programme was a 158.15 million dollars project designed to transform
agribusiness in nine northern states .
She said interventions targeted under the programme
will focus on climate smart agriculture, leveraging innovative technologies,
improving post-harvest handling and value chain addition.
She added that expected results from the interventions
include the creation of over 30,000 jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for
youths, women and vulnerable groups.
The high point of the occasion was the signing of the
agreement for the Joint Roadmap for Accelerated Start-up between the federal
government and IFAD.
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