Vice President Kashim Shettima says rising global trade disruptions are a wake-up call for Nigeria to grow its own food and rely less on imports.
Speaking in Abuja during the signing of a $158.15 million financing agreement for the Value Chain Programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN), Shettima said the project will strengthen agriculture in nine northern states, reduce poverty, and support vulnerable communities.
He warned that trade tensions between global powers like the U.S. and China have disrupted supply chains, making it urgent for Nigeria to grow what it eats and trade what it produces.
Co-funded by IFAD, the French Development Agency, and the Nigerian government, the VCN will boost the cultivation of wheat, maize, and animal feed while providing irrigation, processing, and storage facilities.
“This project also targets women, youth, people with disabilities, and returnees—showing that agriculture is key to peace and recovery,” Shettima added.
Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan praised the programme, calling it a step toward transforming northern communities.
