Food Security Is Priority — Tinubu Pledges Aggressive Overhaul of Agriculture Sector

President Bola Tinubu has assured Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that his administration is actively removing bureaucratic bottlenecks stifling Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He emphasized that eliminating these constraints will pave the way for food sovereignty and increased exports, particularly in livestock production.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Tinubu made this known during a bilateral meeting held at Copacabana Forte in Brazil, attended by members of both countries’ cabinets. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday titled “We’re Removing All Bottlenecks to Improve Food and Agric Production in Nigeria, Says President Tinubu to Brazilian Leader.”

President Tinubu said Nigeria is implementing sweeping economic reforms to enhance global competitiveness, especially in agriculture where the country holds a natural advantage.

“All technicalities in existing agreements between Nigeria and Brazil will be streamlined and fast-tracked,” Tinubu said, referencing areas such as trade, aviation, energy transition, agricultural development, mining, and natural resource exploration.

He praised Brazil’s research and development model, describing it as exemplary, and noted that the South American country ranks among the world’s top producers of food and agricultural products.

On livestock development, Tinubu highlighted ongoing efforts by his administration to attract investment in poultry, cattle rearing, and fisheries. He also pointed to the blue economy as a promising area for long-term partnerships with Brazil. He underscored the role of Nigeria’s subnational governments in complementing federal efforts to use agriculture as a major driver of employment and resource mobilisation.

In response, President Lula pledged to fast-track and regularize all outstanding agreements with Nigeria, promising that updated Memoranda of Understanding would be signed during Tinubu’s next official visit.

Lula also stressed the need to dismantle lingering bureaucratic hurdles between the two nations to ensure faster results. He said Brazilian research and development institutions are ready to partner with Nigeria in improving livestock farming.

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, noted that President Tinubu remains firmly committed to achieving food security through robust domestic and international partnerships. He added that Nigeria already enjoys a comparative advantage in fertilizer production, which can be further enhanced.

Similarly, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, outlined three key areas of potential collaboration with Brazil: disease and health management, sanitary services, and research into genetic materials and new breeds.

Governors in attendance at the meeting included Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos). Governor Abiodun pledged that the subnational governments would support the federal government’s drive to transform agriculture.

He added that the inclusion of a business forum during Tinubu’s visit would help inject fresh capital and ideas into the sector, enabling swift and meaningful progress.

Also present at the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.