FG, NDDC Launch $500m Agriculture Investment Summit

Niger Delta agriculture investment will take centre stage as the Federal Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) unveil a major funding initiative.

The Federal Government, in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has announced a $500 million agriculture investment initiative aimed at transforming farming across the Niger Delta. The announcement was made on Thursday in Abuja ahead of the inaugural Niger Delta Agriculture Development and Investment Summit, organised in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President.

The summit, themed “Unlocking Investment for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in the Niger Delta,” is expected to attract about 500 participants, including international investors, agribusiness companies, development finance institutions, policymakers and regional stakeholders. According to the Presidency, several international oil companies and global agribusiness firms have already indicated interest in the event.

Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, described the summit as a major step in President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda. He said Niger Delta agriculture investment would help boost food security, create jobs and drive inclusive economic growth while positioning the region as a leading agricultural production and export hub.

Although the Niger Delta is widely recognised for its oil resources, Hadejia noted that the region also possesses vast agricultural potential that remains largely untapped. He said the initiative aims to unlock investment, address long-standing challenges and promote coordinated development across the agricultural value chain.

NDDC Managing Director Dr Samuel Ogbuku said the commission plans to mobilise a $500 million investment fund to support large-scale commercial farming across the nine Niger Delta states. He explained that the summit is designed as an investment marketplace where financiers and development partners can connect with viable agricultural opportunities rather than a traditional policy conference.

Ogbuku added that the proposed fund would follow international best practices and combine private capital with equity participation to deliver sustainable financing. He also highlighted the establishment of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, backed with N5 billion, to provide transparent and repayable funding for small and medium-sized agribusinesses.

The commission is also promoting out-grower schemes, modern storage facilities and partnerships that strengthen the entire agricultural value chain. Ogbuku said improved security across the region has made it an attractive destination for investors, adding that all nine Niger Delta states have endorsed the initiative as a shared strategy to expand Niger Delta agriculture investment, create employment and improve food security.

Do you think this initiative can unlock the full potential of Niger Delta agriculture investment and strengthen Nigeria’s food security?