As an instrument for consolidating its  investments in the Nigerian agriculture sector, the African Development Bank (AfDB), led by erstwhile Nigerian Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has set aside the sum of $175 million for its Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme (ATASP-I) in Nigeria’s north-western states.


The AfDB Country Director, Dr Ousmane Dore, made this disclosure at a meeting with the leadership of the North West region at the Kaduna State Government House.

Dore disclosed that the meeting reviewed the bank’s agriculture development strategy for the region, and also its ongoing and upcoming interventions in agriculture in Nigeria as they relate to the seven North West states.

“In line with the agenda of the meeting, we (AfDB) have outlined $175 million for the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme as the main instrument for consolidating the bank investments in Nigeria’s agriculture sector. Under this programme, the bank has established four Staple Crops Processing Zones, which cover four out of the seven North West states; Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa,” Dore said.

He also outlined two upcoming projects totaling $500 million. According to him, $300 million will be deployed towards Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment (ENABLE) Youth Programme and $200 million for Phase II of the ATASP. He stated that the forum recognised that the bank had been providing financial support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through lines of credit to several commercial banks as well as through policy banks like the Bank of Industry, and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank.

He added that the forum also appreciated the bank’s technical assistance to the Bank of Agriculture through grants.

Corrigendum: AgroNigeria deeply regrets the previous pictorial error it committed by transposing the picture of the current AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina with a former President’s. The error has since been corrected on ALL our news portals, and the errant staff stiffly reprimanded. Apologies, once again.