Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring food security and advancing agribusiness growth. Speaking at the ongoing US-Africa Business Summit, themed “From Food Security to Thriving Agribusiness: The Case for a U.S-Africa Strategic Agribusiness Partnership,” Tuggar underscored food security as a key priority in President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda. He emphasized its importance alongside poverty reduction, economic growth, job creation, access to capital, inclusivity, rule of law, and anti-corruption efforts.
During the dialogue session, Tuggar outlined government initiatives aimed at bolstering food production and agribusiness development, including providing planting materials, promoting year-round farming, and establishing agro-processing zones nationwide.
To tackle the issues stemming from insufficient power supply, Tuggar highlighted Tinubu’s signing of the 2023 Electricity Act, which deregulated electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. He emphasized Nigeria’s endeavors to leverage its vast gas reserves to tackle energy issues, citing projects like the South-North AKK Project and the East West/Ob/Ob 3 Gas Pipeline Project.
Emphasizing Nigeria’s dedication to attracting foreign investment, Tuggar urged potential investors in the agriculture value chain to adhere to proper channels to avoid complications. He stressed the significance of following legal procedures to shield investors from land disputes and ensure a transparent investment environment. The dialogue session, moderated by Mima Nedelcovych, Chairman of AfricaGlobal Schaffer, featured speakers such as Joseph Boakai, President of Liberia, Sylvia J. Megret, President and CEO of ACDI/VOCA, and Farouk Gumel, Group Executive Director of Tropical General Investments Group. Tuggar reiterated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to fostering food security, promoting agribusiness, and attracting foreign investment to propel economic growth and development in the country.
