Nigeria’s 2025 national budget for agriculture has stirred debate among experts and stakeholders, with many questioning whether the country is truly on the path to achieving sustainable food security and rural development. One such expert is Adetiloye Aiyeola, Chief Visionary Officer of Awesome Continental, who shared his critical insights during an interview on Business Edge aired on News Central TV.
Aiyeola pointed out that, despite a marked increase in the budget compared to previous years, Nigeria’s agricultural allocation still falls short of the commitments made under the Maputo Declaration. The declaration, adopted by African Union member states in July 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique, mandates that countries allocate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture and rural development to stimulate an annual agricultural growth rate of 6%. Nigeria’s current allocation—approximately 2% of the total budget—is well below this target.
“With this budget, I don’t see us developing our agro-industrial base,” Aiyeola remarked. “Effectiveness and efficiency must be the main considerations while examining agriculture.”
A Call for Structural Support and Infrastructure
Aiyeola emphasized that private sector players are ready to invest in the agricultural sector, but they are discouraged by poor infrastructure, insecurity, and a lack of government coordination. He noted that the development of logistics, rural road networks, storage systems, and market distribution infrastructures are critical areas that the government must prioritize.
“Numerous businesses in the private sector are very eager to enter the agriculture market,” he said. “They can give it some serious thought, though, when they observe the dearth of infrastructure—something that the government alone can supply.”
He further stressed the need for the government to create an enabling environment for agricultural innovation and enterprise.
Budget Increase Applauded, But Not Enough
While acknowledging the government’s efforts to increase agricultural spending—reportedly over 100% higher than the 2024 allocation of ₦362.94 billion and significantly more than the ₦208.4 billion allocated in 2023—Aiyeola maintained that budget size alone is not sufficient to ensure results.
“Spending wisely is more important than increasing spending,” he stated. “We are seeing capital allocations rising by 130% compared to last year, which is commendable. However, a lot more needs to be done to make the impact truly felt.”
Aiyeola underlined the need to shift attention from merely increasing production to improving post-harvest handling, storage, distribution, and processing. According to him, Nigeria’s core agricultural issue is not a lack of food production but inefficient food distribution and loss after harvest.
Aligning with CAADP and National Food Security
The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)—an initiative of the African Union—was designed to help African nations reach the targets outlined in the Maputo Declaration. These targets aim to promote income generation, employment, and better nutrition through agricultural development.
Despite these regional goals, Aiyeola argued that Nigeria’s policies and budget priorities are not fully aligned with these commitments. He suggested that achieving food security in Nigeria will require a comprehensive approach that spans across:
- Investment in cold-chain and dry storage facilities
- Development of rural and feeder roads
- Improved security in farming communities
- Support for aggregators, processors, and logistics providers
- Implementation of agricultural technology and digital platforms
“Food security and agriculture encompass more than just farming,” Aiyeola said. “They also involve the development of trade, roads to markets, distribution networks, storage, logistics, and infrastructure.”
A Vision for Agro-Industrialisation
Aiyeola expressed hope that Nigeria can emerge from poverty through agro-industrial transformation, but only if all stakeholders—including the government, private sector, and civil society—work together toward building a functional agricultural ecosystem.
“I look forward to a Nigeria where the government and all stakeholders involved can pull their weight to ensure that we have a more industrialised agricultural system,” he said.
He emphasized that with over 70% of the population working in agriculture, particularly in rural areas, transforming the sector is not just a path to food security but also a strategy for inclusive economic development.
“The agriculture sector is a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy, and it holds the key to lifting millions out of poverty,” Aiyeola concluded. “But to achieve this, we must move from talk to action.”
While the Nigerian government has made strides by increasing its agricultural budget for 2025, experts like Adetiloye Aiyeola caution that without meeting the Maputo Declaration’s 10% benchmark, and without investing in critical support infrastructure, the country risks falling short of its food security and rural development goals. As Nigeria charts its course toward a more industrialised agricultural sector, strategic spending, stakeholder collaboration, and system-wide improvements will be essential to creating long-lasting impact.