— Shettima: We’re fulfilling Tinubu’s promise to fight poverty, empower farmers
The Federal Government has signed a $158.15 million financing agreement to kick-start the Value Chain Programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN), a major agricultural initiative aimed at reducing poverty, enhancing food security, and empowering rural communities in nine northern states.
The deal was formalised on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the Nigerian Government as co-funders. Implementation of the eight-year programme begins immediately.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who spearheaded the initiative, described the project as a strategic step toward revitalising northern Nigeria’s agricultural economy and fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to lift Nigerians out of poverty and restore dignity to farming households.
“This is a declaration of faith in the North—not as a region of deficits, but as a place of abundance,” Shettima said at the ceremony. “This project is about people, productivity, and prosperity. It will transform wheat, maize, and animal feed production into export-ready agricultural ventures.”
READ ALSO: Ministry of Agriculture Launches ‘Operation Empty the Store’ to Boost Food Security
Targeting vulnerable groups—including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and conflict returnees—the VCN programme will focus on climate-smart agriculture, value chain processing, irrigation, and rural infrastructure in Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Shettima highlighted how the VCN would support the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) initiative, creating a steady pipeline of raw materials and helping Nigeria move from raw produce export to value-added agribusiness.
IFAD Country Director, Dede Ekoue, said the VCN aims to impact over 3.1 million people and create more than 30,000 jobs through interventions in post-harvest handling, business development, financial services, and rural road infrastructure.
Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari, former Senate President Ahmed Lawan, and several northern governors applauded the initiative, pledging full support for its implementation.
The event concluded with the signing of a Joint Roadmap for Accelerated Start-up between IFAD and the Federal Government, witnessed by stakeholders, development partners, and top government officials.