President Tinubu Vows to Make Agriculture a Bankable Sector

News in Brief:

-President Tinubu urges agricultural stakeholders to turn finance into a tool for transformation, advocating collaboration and innovative funding models.

-The Minister of Livestock Development reinforces Nigeria’s ongoing reforms to make agriculture and livestock key drivers of food security and economic growth.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged agricultural stakeholders to view finance not as a barrier but as a catalyst for growth and sustainability. He made this call during his keynote address at the African Agricultural Dialogue (AAD) 2025, held in Abuja on October 8, 2025.

Represented by Idris Ajimobi, Senior Special Assistant on Livestock Development, Tinubu stated that achieving agricultural transformation across Africa requires rethinking how capital flows, risks are shared, and finance systems are structured.

“Let us leave Abuja with a clear roadmap for mobilising and managing agricultural finance; firm commitments to strengthen blended finance, insurance, and credit systems; and a renewed determination to make agriculture and livestock truly bankable sectors,” Tinubu said.

From Conversation to Commitment

The President called for tangible actions beyond dialogue, stressing that agricultural discussions must translate into commitments, capital, and concrete outcomes. He urged policymakers, financiers, and private sector players to collaborate to unlock finance, empower farmers, and ensure inclusive agricultural development.

Nigeria’s Livestock Vision and Agribusiness Reform

Speaking at the same event, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, highlighted Nigeria’s bold reforms in the agricultural space, anchored on food security and agribusiness-led transformation.

He noted that the state of emergency on agriculture declared by the federal government was not symbolic but a decisive call to action, one that focuses on production, investment, and inclusion.

“The establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development is a bold step to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s livestock economy, promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders, and harness livestock’s contribution to GDP, employment, and nutritional security,” Maiha said.

He added that the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) aims to strengthen rural enterprises and empower agri-preneurs across value chains.

Minister Maiha identified key constraints in the livestock sector, including financing gaps, weak infrastructure, and fragmented markets. He noted that platforms like AAD are essential for de-risking agricultural lending, attracting blended finance, and promoting sustainable investment in livestock and allied value chains.