AfDB, WFP, IFPRI urge coordinated investments to rebuild northern Nigeria’s food systems

The African Development Bank (AfDB), in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), has launched a new report calling for innovative and coordinated investments to rebuild northern Nigeria’s food systems and boost agricultural productivity.

Titled “Investing in Innovative Food Systems Solutions in Challenging Contexts,” the report was presented on the sidelines of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

It outlines actionable policies and investment strategies aimed at revitalising agriculture, restoring livelihoods, and fostering long-term resilience in conflict-affected regions.

Speaking during a high-level panel session, Abubakar Kyari, minister of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted government plans to relocate 80 percent of national silos closer to small farming communities.

“We are working to ensure that storage facilities serve the real producers, not just distant hubs,” he said.

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Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, emphasised the importance of private sector participation and consistency in agricultural policy.

“The best way to tackle poverty in the North is through long-term investment and fixing the value chains,” he said.

Abdul Kamara, AfDB’s director general for Nigeria, who moderated the session, stressed that rebuilding the region’s agricultural value chains is crucial to achieving food sovereignty and economic stability.

“By building resilient value chains, we can create sustainable jobs, empower women and youth, and lay the foundation for shared prosperity,” he said.

The AfDB currently has nearly $900 million invested in Nigeria’s agriculture sector through initiatives like the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) and the National Agriculture Growth Scheme (NAGS).

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These programmes aim to enhance productivity, market access, and value addition across key crops including sorghum, millet, maize, wheat, cowpeas, soybeans, groundnuts, and tomatoes.

Steven Were Omamo, executive director of IFPRI, said the report offers a data-driven framework to guide policy and investment decisions in fragile contexts.

“Grounding decisions in rigorous evidence ensures smarter resilience-building and lasting impact,” he noted.

David Stevenson, WFP Country Director added that rebuilding northern Nigeria’s “breadbasket” requires shifting from emergency aid to market-led, climate-smart, and partnership-driven solutions. “It demands bold investments rooted in peace and resilience,” he said.

The partners urged government agencies, investors, and development organizations to use the report as a blueprint for channeling financing toward a food-secure and inclusive northern.