FG, NDDC Launch $500 Million Niger Delta Agriculture Fund to Boost Food Production
FG, NDDC Launch $500 Million Niger Delta Agriculture Fund to Boost Food Production
The Federal Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have unveiled a $500 million agriculture investment fund aimed at transforming food production, enhancing food security and driving economic growth across the Niger Delta region.
The initiative is designed to unlock the vast agricultural potential of the region by providing financing for large-scale farming, agribusiness development, value chain expansion and modern agricultural infrastructure.
Officials said the fund would support farmers, cooperatives, agribusiness operators and private sector investors, while creating sustainable employment opportunities for thousands of youths and women across the nine Niger Delta states.
The programme also seeks to increase local food production, reduce Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and promote agro-industrial development through strategic investments in crop cultivation, livestock production, fisheries and agricultural processing.
According to government officials, the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader agenda of diversifying the economy through agriculture and strengthening national food security.
The NDDC noted that the intervention would leverage partnerships with development finance institutions, private investors and international organisations to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.
The commission added that the fund would encourage innovation, improve access to agricultural financing and accelerate rural development by supporting commercially viable farming projects.
Stakeholders believe the initiative has the potential to reposition the Niger Delta as a major agricultural hub while reducing unemployment, increasing farmers’ incomes and contributing significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The government reaffirmed its commitment to creating an enabling environment for agricultural investment, stating that improved infrastructure, access to finance and value chain development remain central to achieving sustainable food production nationwide.
