Report on the Agriculture Sector Working Group for implementation

The report of the Agriculture Sector Working Group (ASWP), recently inaugurated by the Minister, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, aims to achieve the transformation of the African Union's agricultural food system, as outlined in the Heads of State resolutions for each member.

The full detail of the report reads thus: "REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR WORKING GROUP(ASWG) INAUGURAL AND INCEPTION MEETING HELD AT ROCKVIEW (ROYALE) HOTEL, ABUJA ON TUESDAY, 15TH APRIL, 2025

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INTRODUCTION

1.1

The Meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Sen. Abubakar Kyari, CON, for the inauguration of the Agriculture Sector Working Group for the purpose of guiding the implementation of policies and strategies for sustainable growth and development of the sector, and as well, driving the resolutions of the African Union Heads of State on the actualization of the Agrifood System Transformation in member States along the crop, livestock, fisheries and forestry value chains.

1.2

The meeting was attended by 93 participants from relevant MDAs, OPS,R&DIs, FAs and NGOs/CSOs, namely: Federal Ministries of Agriculture & Food Security, Environment, Finance, Livestock Development, Water & Sanitation, Women Affairs, Budget and National Planning and Industry Trade & Investment, as well as the Office of the Account General of the Federation, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, National Bureau of Statistics and Institute of Agricultural Research & Technology.

1.3

Others were the Food and Agriculture Organisation, BudgIT Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, National Ports Authority, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Agricultural Farmers Association of Nigeria, Association of Small-Scale Agro-Producers in Nigeria, and Small Scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria- (Annex 1: Attendance List).

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WELCOME REMARKS

2.1

The Welcome remark was delivered by the Hon. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON, ably represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Engr. Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi. In his remarks, he stated that the aim of the meeting was to inaugurate the Agricultural Sector Working Group (ASWG) and the Technical Committee on Nigeria’s Action Plan for the Kampala Declaration 2026-2035.

2.2

According to him, the inaugural meeting signified the launch of a national mechanism aimed at transforming agricultural food systems in Nigeria. He believed the ASWG would provide a platform for collaboration, idea initiation and evidence-based decision making, to support the mainstreaming and implementation of the Kampala Commitment in Nigeria from 2026 – 2035. He thanked all stakeholders for their commitment to a sustainable food future for all Nigerians.

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GOODWILL MESSAGES

3.1

Goodwill messages were presented by the Hon. Ministers of Finance & Economy Coordination and Livestock Development, Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Country Representative of ActionAid (ably represented), and the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

3.2

The dignitaries commended Nigeria’s bold step and the commitment towards implementing the post-Malabo Agenda for African Agricultural transformation and applauded Mr. President for recapitalising the Bank of Agriculture to the tune of N1.5 Trillion.

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They appreciated the Administration’s National Food Security objectives, which aligned with the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), and expressed their commitment to the transformation of the Agrifood System to enhance Food and Nutrition Security in the country.

3.4

The stakeholders stressed the need to support smallholder farmers who are the major producers of food commodities in the country through the provision of inputs and extension services to enhance food availability, accessibility and affordability

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HONOURABLE MINISTER’S ADDRESS

4.1

The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, in his Inaugural speech, reiterated the commitment of the present Administration to transforming the nation’s agricultural food system, as demonstrated through the progressive policies, strategies and actions. He informed the meeting that it was expedient to establish a platform for continued collaboration to bridge existing gaps towards achieving the CAADP Agenda.

4.2

He admitted that the ASWG would bring together critical stakeholders, including the Public Sector, the Private Sector, Research Institutions, Financial Institutions, and Development Partners, Civil Societies and Farmers Organisations, to leverage their expertise and available resources for a more productive and resilient agri-food system in Nigeria.

4.3

He inaugurated the 64-member Committee and enjoined them to be committed to delivering on the under-listed Terms of Reference (ToR) for effective and efficient agricultural development and food security in the country:

i. Provide advisory services and policy initiatives to guide the sustainability, growth and development of the sector in Nigeria;

ii. Facilitate the implementation of the resolutions of the African Union Heads of State on agrifood system transformation in line with the 2025 Kampala Declaration in the country;

iii. strengthen synergy and inter-sectoral linkages in the implementation of projects and programmes on Agrifood System Transformation in the country;

iv. Explore funding windows to leverage the potential in the agricultural sector across crop, livestock, fisheries and forestry sub-sectors

v. Coordinate a solution-driven approach to address emergencies as well as policy interventions in the Agricultural sector when the need arises

vi. Capture and analyse comprehensive agricultural data (Biennial Review) to inform evidence-based policy and decision-making.

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Furthermore, the Honourable Minister inaugurated the 18-member Technical Committee on Nigeria’s Action Plan for Kampala Declaration, chaired by the Director, P&PC, FMAFS, with the following ToRs:

i. Review the performance of the country in the implementation of the Malabo declaration and document successes, weaknesses and lessons.

ii. Consult with relevant stakeholders on the development of the strategy and action plan for the implementation of the Kampala Declaration (2026-2035)

iii. Develop a draft country (Nigeria) specific strategy and action plan for the implementation of the Kampala Declaration by September 2025 in line with the AU CAADP Strategy and Action Plan - 2026-2035

iv. Subject the draft strategy action plan to stakeholders' validation for inclusivity and buy-in, and ownership by 10th October, 2025

v. Submission of the strategy and action plan for adoption by the ASWG on or before 30th October.

vi. Any other issues/matters that will add value in the assignment as directed by the HMAFS

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KAMPALA DECLARATION PRESENTATION

5.1

The Technical session was basically a presentation on the Kampala Declaration and the Next Steps by the Director in Charge of Agriculture and Rural Development at the ECOWAS Commission, Alain Sy Traore, ably represented by Mr. Christopher Mensah-Yawson, Director of Trade and Development at the ECOWAS Commission. The presentation gave the trajectory and overview of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which was a policy framework developed in Maputo in 2003 to increase food security across the continent of Africa.

5.2. Continuing, he highlighted the added commitments through the Malabo Declaration and the New Era, leading to the Kampala Declaration, which seeks to intensify sustainable food production, agro-industrialisation, and Trade. His presentation acknowledged the steady progress that the country has made over the past 2 decades of CAADP with a shared commitment to sustainable growth and development of the sector.

5.3. Also, the presentation highlighted the enhancement of Intra-Trade, poverty reduction and access to finance as key areas for improvement. Stakeholders were encouraged to intensify efforts towards achieving the goals and targets set out in the declarations for the realisation of resilient Agri-food Systems in Nigeria.

5.4. He specifically explained that while the Maputo Declaration were on allocating 10 per cent of national budgets to agriculture and achieving productivity growth of at least six per cent/year, the Malabo Declaration added commitments related to hunger, malnutrition, poverty, intra-African trade, resilience, and mutual Accountability.

5.5. For Nigeria, he disclosed that the country’s CAADP performance over time is 100.0% for CAADP Process Completion, 88.9% of youth engaged in new job opportunities in agriculture value chains, and 87.0% of farm, pastoral, and fishery households are resilient to climate and weather-related shocks.

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Actually, he presented the recent scores of Nigeria's CAADP Performance on every commitment, to be on track on mutual accountability for actions & results, while not on track on Resilience to climate variability, Inter-African Trade, Eradication of Hunger, Investment Finance and Commitment to the CAADP Process.

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In his final analysis, the country required actions are on addressing 13.6% of farmers having access to agriculture advisory services. 10.5kg/ha of fertiliser consumption per hectare of arable land is lower than the recommended 50kg/ha. 3.3% of public agriculture expenditure as a share of total public expenditure

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CONCLUSION

6.1

Honourable Minister directed the inclusion of the World Food Programme and World Bank as members of the Agricultural Sector Working Group, while the Permanent Secretary informed Members that the next meeting of the ASWG would be on 30th October, 2025 and called for interested Member-Organisations to volunteer to host the meeting. Accordingly,

six (6) organisations, namely: FAO, NACCIMA, NADF, AGRA, GIZ and ActionAid, indicated interest in hosting the next meeting of ASWG. After deliberation, it was agreed that the FAO would host the meeting, while NACCIMA and GIZ would stand by as alternates.

6.2

The vote of thanks was delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Engr. Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, ably represented by Mr. Ibrahim Tanimu, Director, Planning & Policy Coordination. He encouraged continued support and collaboration amongst stakeholders as the meeting came to a close.