Agricultural stakeholders in Nigeria have emphasized the need to use the remaining 60% of the country’s underutilized arable land to address food security concerns effectively. Currently, only 40% of Nigeria’s arable land is cultivated, a figure experts argue is insufficient to combat the nation’s food and poverty issues.
Speaking at the Policy Dialogue Series on Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria, held at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Plateau State, Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, highlighted the importance of expanding agricultural capacity. Fasua noted that fully utilizing available farmland could not only ensure food availability but also support local consumption, increase export opportunities, and reduce poverty through agricultural employment.
“Nigeria is fortunate to have favorable weather and rich soil across its northern states, which support diverse crops like sesame, sorghum, ginger, soybeans, cassava, and yam. Tapping into our agricultural potential can address local food needs and open up international market opportunities,” Fasua said.
Markus Wauschkuhn, Cluster Coordinator of the Sustainable Economic Development Cluster (SEDEC) at GIZ Nigeria, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing GIZ’s commitment to fostering sustainable development, employment, and income generation. He highlighted the SEDEC team’s efforts to enhance policy implementation and support economic growth across Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
