As Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration marks its second anniversary, Nigeria’s agricultural sector is at a pivotal juncture with navigating ambitious reforms while contending with enduring structural challenges. Despite soaring food inflation, insecurity in farming communities and the mounting impacts of climate change, agriculture has emerged as a central pillar in Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
Key interventions such as the establishment of a Ministry of Livestock Development and an unprecedented N826.5 billion budgetary allocation for the sector in 2025, reflect the administration’s intensified push to boost productivity, strengthen food security and enhance resilience. Stakeholders have commended the administration’s vision and foundational work but underscore the need for more consistent execution, greater transparency and structural reform to sustain momentum.
Between August 2023 and April 2025, the federal government recorded several milestones such as procurement and distribution of improved seeds, fertilizer supply, mechanisation support and the expansion of national food storage facilities. To support productivity, the government distributed 6,000 improved oil palm tenera sprouted nuts and 5,000 hybrid seedlings for plantation development. Additionally, 4,000 rice farmers received 25kg of improved rice seed each while 100 millet farmers were supplied with 4.9 metric tonnes of certified seed for the 2024 planting season.
Over 860,000 smallholder farmers nationwide benefited from 1.7 million bags of assorted fertiliser while 14,181 individuals and SMEs accessed low-cost agricultural loans across various value chains. A significant leap was made in food security through the rehabilitation of silo facilities in the South-South, North-Central and North-East zones with each adding 25,000 metric tonnes to the national grain reserves, which is a critical move in stabilising prices.
For the National President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN)Sunday Ezeobiora, the administration’s performance has been “a mix of ambitious reforms and persistent challenges”. He noted, “Initiatives like the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development and the duty-free importation of maize were welcome. However, the removal of fuel and foreign exchange subsidies has raised transportation and feed production costs. Many small-scale poultry farmers are now operating at a loss due to unsustainable expenses and weakening consumer purchasing power.”
Ezeobiora further explained that while some livestock farmers received support, the rising prices of maize and soybean for essential poultry feed ingredients have hampered production and reduced consumption. “Families can no longer afford eggs and poultry meat as before,” lamented Ezeobiora. The Oloni of Eti-Oni and founder of International Cocoa Diplomacy (ICD), Oba Dokun Thompson, urged observers to assess progress over a longer horizon. “Security challenges have plagued farming communities for over a decade but today’s interventions appear more structured, and there is evidence that security issues are being addressed,” shared Thompson.
He applauded recent reforms, including the approval of commodity boards, creation of zonal development commissions and the launch of the Nigeria Agric Development Fund and N1 trillion Agric Fund through MOFI. Thompson added, “These are laying the groundwork for long-term sufficiency and sustainability. The administration is heading in the right direction.”
The National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim, acknowledged the administration’s policy efforts including the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) and the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP). “The focus on agribusiness and productivity is commendable but we need transparent execution of these policies. Climate change, mechanisation and insecurity are being addressed but we need encouragement and time to achieve broader milestones.”
With agricultural funding increasing from N228.4 billion in 2023 to N826.5 billion in 2025, stakeholders point to notable job creation. Deputy Chairman of PAN in Lagos, Foluso Adams said over 60,000 jobs have been generated especially in rural areas. He cited the expansion of dry season farming to cover 500,000 hectares, the free distribution of 2.15 million bags of fertiliser and the vaccination of 14 million livestock as major gains. “Still, food inflation reached 40.53% in April 2024, up from 24.82% in May 2023 and insecurity continues to disrupt agricultural activity. Poor rural roads also remain a barrier,” added Adams.
In response to climate change, stakeholders praised the government’s pivot to climate-smart agriculture and modern technology. Oba Thompson highlighted the roles of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the National Climate Change Commission (NCCC). “The shift may appear slow due to capacity constraints, but competent leadership is now in place. Ibrahim also commended the creation of the Climate Change Council, calling it a critical step towards resilience.
However, Alphonsus Inyang, President of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), said more needs to be done. “Unlike previous administrations, there’s still no coherent policy like the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), though the Ministry of Livestock Development is a step in the right direction,” said Inyang.
The creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development , the first of its kind, has been hailed as a transformative step for Nigeria’s animal husbandry and poultry sectors. “We now have a structure that decentralises and simplifies what previously seemed overly complex. This new ministry can re-establish systems to promote sufficiency and sustainability,” said Thompson. Already, more than 14 million livestock have been vaccinated and new animal health clinics are being established nationwide. The ministry is expected to lead on policy, breeding, feed production and disease prevention.
The government is also advancing inclusive farming through outgrower and contract farming schemes, aimed at integrating smallholder farmers into commercial supply chains. In parallel, youth and women are being targeted through empowerment programmes and rural livelihood enterprises. To promote accountability, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has initiated quarterly citizen engagement sessions, allowing for feedback and public scrutiny.
Two years into his term, Tinubu’s agricultural legacy is still unfolding. While seeds of reform have been planted in terms of policy, budget and infrastructure, stakeholders agree that the real test lies in implementation. “The objectives are solid but success depends on consistency, inclusion and transparency,” said Ibrahim.
From poultry farmers struggling with feed costs to cocoa producers optimistic about new commodity boards, one thing remains clear, agriculture is central to Nigeria’s economic stability and national development. What comes next will depend on how well the administration nurtures the reforms it has sown.
