The Federal Government on Wednesday signed a $158.15 million financing agreement to launch the Value Chain Programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN), a major initiative aimed at boosting food security, creating jobs, and driving rural development.
The agreement was formalized at the State House in Abuja by representatives of the Federal Government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the French Development Agency (AFD), with all parties contributing funding.
The eight-year programme, approved on March 21, 2024, stemmed from a request by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the UN Food Systems Summit stocktaking in Rome on July 24, 2023. He urged IFAD to expand its operations in Nigeria and rally more partners to support the country’s agri-food transformation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Targeting nine northern states—Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara—the initiative aims to sustainably reduce poverty, improve nutrition, and strengthen the resilience of rural and vulnerable communities.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Shettima described the programme as a result of strategic thinking in response to the economic challenges facing northern Nigeria.
Shettima, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said it is a fulfilment of the promise made by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce poverty in Nigeria, restore dignity to the nation’s farmers, and ensure food security.
“It is a declaration of faith in the North—not as a region of deficits, but as a place of abundance. It also invites us to play our part in fulfilling the promise to reduce poverty, nourish our people, and restore dignity to farming families across Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Yobe, and Zamfara.
“What has brought us together today is an investment of $158.15 million, co-financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Federal Government of Nigeria, and other stakeholders. This reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to prioritising what matters most—people, productivity, and prosperity,” VP Shettima declared.
Recalling that the administration recently commenced foundation laying for the construction of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) across Nigeria, the VP said said the VCN programme will feed into the SAPZs, serving as “a steady pipeline of raw materials and ensuring our processors no longer grope for quality inputs.
“This synergy will shift us from exporting raw produce to exporting value-added goods—creating jobs, wealth, and industrial stability,” he added.
Shettima observed that “the recent global trade disruptions and the resurgence of protectionism are loud warnings” to Nigeria to begin to grow what its people eat and produce what they trade.
His words: “The agricultural tariffs and retaliatory postures of global powers like the U.S. and China have rattled commodity chains. For a nation that has long relied on food imports, the message is clear: we must grow what we eat and produce what we trade.
“The VCN answers this call. By making wheat, maize, and animal feed viable for commercial cultivation, and by investing in irrigation, processing, and storage facilities in states like Kebbi and Jigawa, we are not just securing food—we are laying the groundwork for agricultural exports that can rival our oil.
“What makes this programme exceptional is that it targets the underserved: women, youth, persons with disabilities, and returnees. It recognises that peace and prosperity are twin goals—and that in communities scarred by conflict, agriculture is not just a livelihood; it is rehabilitation.”
Noting that the Federal Government will deploy digital tools to track every step, “from farmer registration to market access, from input distribution to yield analysis”, the VP assured that “in regions where migration and insecurity are fuelled by joblessness, the VCN provides vehicles for enterprise, income, and dignity.”
Former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan who spoke on behalf of the National Assembly, commended IFAD, the federal government and other partners for the conception of the programme, describing it as a well-thought-out initiative that will transform the lives and livelihoods of many in the target states and beyond.
He pledged the commitment and support of the National Assembly in the implementation of the various interventions contained in the programme.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the signing of the financing agreement as a major milestone in efforts to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector under the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He emphasized that the involvement of the nine participating states, along with the presence of key stakeholders, reflects a strong commitment by both the federal and sub-national governments to promote inclusive agricultural development and economic empowerment.
The Minister expressed optimism that the Value Chain Programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN) would implement impactful projects aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, farmer cooperatives, and women across the region.
