The federal government has reaffirmed its dedication to embracing responsible and inclusive land-based investment principles within the agricultural sector, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. This aims to enhance the ease of doing business, enhance food security, and uphold social and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Ali Mohammed, the national program coordinator of the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), spoke on Monday in Abuja during the start of a workshop on the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture. The workshop was jointly organized for sub-national entities by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
The SABER program, spanning three years from 2023 to 2025, with a budget of $750 million, aims to encourage states to enact essential reforms. These reforms target enhancing efficiency in land administration, regulating the framework for private investment in fiber optic deployment, improving services offered by investment promotion agencies, and strengthening public-private partnership units, among other objectives.
According to Ibrahim Mohammed, the communication specialist for the SABER program, disbursements are anticipated to be lent to the states once yearly verification by an independent agent confirms successful implementation of the associated reform.
Dr. Mohammed expressed concern that despite steady increases in food production, achieving food security remains a significant challenge. He highlighted government interventions in terms of financing and input availability but pointed out persistent systemic issues related to land administration and compliance with best practices.
“As we aim to attract more investment in the sector, it’s crucial to eliminate barriers to doing business and ensure that investors adhere to principles that protect the rights of host communities. They should adopt operational models with minimal impacts on livelihoods and the environment. We believe that the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) outlines the path to achieving these goals.”
