Nigeria boosts agriculture in the Niger Delta

Discussions about the Niger Delta usually focus on oil instead of farming. The Niger Delta has been a key part of Nigeria’s economy since oil was found in large amounts in 1956 in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State.

But now, the story is changing. There are new efforts to shift focus to agriculture to secure Nigeria’s future. The goal is to create an agricultural economy that encourages investment, drives growth, and makes the Niger Delta one of Nigeria’s top spots for agribusiness.

The Niger Delta has everything investors want. The region has rich soil, plenty of water, different ecological zones, a long coastline, and access to important local and international markets. There is great potential for farming, fish farming, livestock, agro-processing, and agricultural trade across the Niger Delta states.

Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Fund

On July 15, the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja was buzzing with plans to improve agriculture in Nigeria’s oil-rich area. Vice President Kashim Shettima unveiled the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Fund and launched a Coordinating Council for agricultural development in the Niger Delta region.

This important event was the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Summit. It was called a game-changer for Nigeria’s economy because of a $500 million investment fund to increase food production and create over 500,000 jobs.

The summit was jointly organised by the Office of the Vice President and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The support of the governors from the nine Niger Delta states was also crucial. The theme was: “Unlocking Investment for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in the Niger Delta.”

For the first time, different groups are coming together for a shared goal of transforming agriculture in the Niger Delta. This includes the government, development finance institutions, private investors, and partners.

Vice President Shettima explained that the fund will be a platform to finance projects along the agricultural value chain. This includes oil palm, aquaculture, cassava, cocoa, rice, horticulture, livestock, and marine resources. The fund also aims to attract money from international development institutions, banks, and private investors.

He said: “Before oil took centre stage in our economy, it was the soil that paid our bills. We must, therefore, return to agriculture for our economic development.”

Mr Shettima added that agriculture is key to the Tinubu administration’s plans for economic growth and food security. The fund will also gather support from partners like the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and private financiers.

“Above both stands the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Council, which I am honoured to chair, with the NDDC as its Secretariat,” he stated. “It is no coincidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu placed food security among the earliest priorities of this administration, because nations that lose control of their food eventually surrender control of their future.”

‘Agric offers the region a pathway to food security…’

Earlier, the NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, pointed out that agriculture used to drive the region’s economy before oil was found. He said: “The Niger Delta has for decades been known for oil, but it is time to unlock the enormous opportunities beneath its fertile soil. Agriculture offers the region a pathway to food security, employment, investment, and lasting prosperity.”

The NDDC boss said the summit marks the start of a coordinated investment program to bring in private money and diversify the economy. He noted that the shift of international oil companies to deep offshore assets opens up opportunities for agriculture to be the next big investment area in the Niger Delta.

Chiedu Ebie, the NDDC Governing Board Chairman, mentioned that while the Niger Delta is known for oil and gas, it also has rich farmland for agriculture. He said: “We remain guided and aligned with the agricultural policies of the federal government. The eight presidential priorities encompassing food security, poverty eradication, job creation, and the fight against corruption serve as our roadmap toward a brighter and more prosperous Niger Delta.”

Kingsley Uzoma, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, noted that the summit aimed to connect the Niger Delta’s agricultural potential with the needed investments and partnerships for growth. He said the region has vast agricultural resources, waterways, and talent. But it needs a coordinated approach and access to money to reach its full potential.

In her speech, Winifred Madume, the NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said the next chapter for the Niger Delta must be through agriculture. This includes modern, profit-driven farming that draws in investment, creates value, provides jobs, and competes globally. She said: “The Niger Delta possesses the natural and economic fundamentals that investors seek. Our region is endowed with fertile land, abundant freshwater resources, diverse ecological zones, extensive coastline and inland waterways, and access to major domestic and export markets.”

Ms Madume insisted that agriculture must be the focus, not just subsistence farming. She said: “Around the world, the global conversation on agriculture has changed. Agriculture is no longer viewed simply as a development sector. It is now recognised as a strategic investment sector that creates wealth, strengthens economies and secures nations.”

She added: “The Niger Delta offers access to one of Africa’s largest consumer markets, a strategic location for regional trade, and diverse opportunities across agricultural value chains. Investors, bring your technology. Bring your expertise. Bring patient capital. Together, we can build globally competitive agribusinesses that deliver strong commercial returns while strengthening food security and economic growth.”

To make a real impact, development finance institutions, commercial banks, and investment partners must work together to fund profitable agricultural businesses. The Niger Delta has plenty of potential, but it needs the right investment to unlock it.