By Adewale Kupoluyi
In the budget recently presented to the National Assembly, christened the “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,” Nigerian President Bola Tinubu disclosed that the budget is at the core of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He stated that it demonstrates the administration’s commitment to stabilizing the economy, improving lives, and repositioning the country for greater performance.
The President further revealed: “Increasing agricultural production is central to our food security agenda, but insecurity has crippled this vital sector.
“We are supporting our farmers with funding and inputs to reignite productivity. Food security is non-negotiable.
“In this regard, we are taking bold steps to ensure that every Nigerian can feed conveniently, and none of our citizens will have to go to bed hungry.”
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) predicted that 33 million people could face severe food crises in the country by 2025.
This represents a sharp increase from the 25 million people currently experiencing food insecurity.
It not only poses a significant food risk to the country but also underscores the severe hunger staring us in the face.
The Federal Government, in its quest for food security, has allocated about two percent of the 2025 budget to the agriculture sector.
From the N49.7 trillion budget presented by the President, agriculture was allocated N826.5 billion, or 1.7 percent.
Agriculture ranks behind defence and security, which received N4.91 trillion, infrastructure (N4.06 trillion), health (N2.48 trillion), and education (N3.52 trillion).
The N826.5 billion allocation to agriculture marks a more than 100 percent increase from N362.94 billion in 2024 and N228.4 billion in 2023.
The Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, explained that the increase aims to ensure food sufficiency, reduce reliance on imports, promote agricultural mechanization, execute irrigation projects, and develop value chains.
This move is expected to boost food production, support economic diversification, and promote rural development.
The government also seeks collaborations with the private sector to enhance mechanization in crop, livestock, and aquaculture sectors.
Yakubu mentioned plans for capital-intensive agribusiness programs capable of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Key to this agricultural overhaul is the Renewed Hope Fertilizer Support Programme (RH-FSP), designed to enhance fertilizer production and distribution, improve crop yields and farmer incomes, and curb food-induced inflation.
A ₦127.27 billion intervention fund will support raw material imports, improve logistics, and aid local blending plants.
The program includes revolving concessionary financing and a loan scheme to ensure sustainability in fertilizer production.
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has replaced the discontinued Central Bank of Nigeria’s Real Sector Support Facility (CBN-RSSF) and offers single-digit interest loans to support local fertilizer production.
Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has proposed spending N180 billion on federal universities of agriculture and research institutes in the 2025 proposed budget.
The 2025 Appropriation Bill revealed that N54.38 billion, representing 8.4 percent of the ministry’s total budget, is allocated to universities.
Dr Moses Ogah, a don at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, commended the proposal as a positive development:
“Yes, it is a step in the right direction. We cannot say it is enough, but I think it has never been like this before.
The essence of establishing the university of agriculture is to engage in food production so that food can be sold to the populace at subsidized rates.
Unfortunately, we are not living up to expectations and the mission of these institutions,” Ogah noted.
In contrast, other stakeholders expressed concerns about the allocation.
Suleiman Dikwa, CEO of Green Sahara Farms in Plateau State, criticized the two percent allocation:
“Given the critical role agriculture plays in food security, economic stability, and rural livelihoods, such a minimal allocation appears inadequate to address the challenges we face.
“With the ongoing effects of climate change, desertification, and other environmental pressures, agricultural productivity is under threat.
“A mere two percent allocation signals a lack of commitment and may lead to further marginalization of the sector.”
Adetiloye Aiyeola, Executive Secretary of the Produce Export Development Alliance, noted:
“Allocating only two percent of the 2025 budget to agriculture raises significant concerns, especially given projections that 33.1 million Nigerians will face acute food insecurity during the upcoming lean season.
“This modest allocation may not suffice to address challenges like post-harvest losses, insecurity, and economic instability.”
Dr Lawrence Olajide-Taiwo, CEO of Betterment Hub and LOFIM Agribusiness, called the allocation ‘alarmingly inadequate’.
“Historically, the Nigerian government has failed to honour its 2014 commitment, alongside other African nations, to dedicate at least 10 percent of the budget to agriculture.
“Despite rebranding efforts, the low allocation reflects a lack of real commitment to addressing agricultural needs,” he said.
Comfort Onyaga, Founder of Izanu Africa, stated: “I see this allocation as mere lip service to agriculture.
“It reflects a clear weaponization of hunger. How do you allocate just two percent of the budget to agriculture?”
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), however, commended the Federal Government’s robust plans.
Its Director-General, Dr Chinyere Almona, urged addressing food and energy supply chain bottlenecks, fast-tracking local petroleum production, and aligning monetary and fiscal policies to restore confidence in the naira and ease inflation.
FarmingFarmersFarms previously argued that agriculture deserves better funding, highlighting its significant contribution of 22–26 percent to the GDP and its role as the main livelihood for over 40 percent of Nigerians.
As a way forward, Nigeria must prioritize agricultural funding to position the sector for growth, job creation, and export promotion.
Ahead of the 2026 budget, the nation should reaffirm its commitment to the Malabo Declaration by allocating at least 10 percent of its budget to agriculture.
Doing so could stimulate economic diversification, reduce hunger, and enhance national development.
Dr. Kupoluyi is the Editor-in-Chief of FarmingFarmersFarms.
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