Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to deepening regional cooperation in agriculture, trade, and environmental management, as Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, called for strengthened coordination across West Africa to boost productivity and enhance food security.
Kyari made the call in Abuja on Wednesday at the opening of the ECOWAS Initiative on Economic Integration through Trade, Environment and Agriculture — a series of linked policy dialogues convened by the ECOWAS Commission.
The meetings brought together the Commission’s Directorates of Trade, Environment and Agriculture, alongside ministers, development partners, private sector actors and technical experts from across the region.
Kyari stressed that agriculture, trade and environmental management must be treated as an interconnected system, noting that agricultural goods form a major part of West Africa’s intra-regional trade but remain vulnerable to climate shocks and environmental degradation.
“With agriculture driving regional trade, and the environment sustaining our productivity, none of these sectors can function in isolation,” he said, urging member states to scale up support to farmers and deepen market integration.
The minister highlighted regional and continental efforts promoting predictable, rules-based trade, pointing to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) as key frameworks for expanding markets. He also reaffirmed the importance of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and ECOWAS’ agricultural policy, ECOWAP, which aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Kyari said Nigeria has established its Agriculture Sector Working Group to coordinate national development under the Post-Malabo CAADP commitments ahead of the Kampala Declaration (2026–2035). He described the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) as a comprehensive reform strategy linking technology, market efficiency, farmer support and institutional development.
As the ECOWAS meetings continue into December, issues such as fertilizer quality, soil health and the development of a regional fertilizer strategy are expected to dominate discussions. Kyari described fertilizer as the “single most expensive but most impactful input” for African farmers, warning that poor-quality products threaten regional food production.
He disclosed that Nigeria recently launched the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme, which provides soil-specific nutrient guides and supports efficient fertilizer use through a national soil-health data platform.
Reiterating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to food security, Kyari noted that agriculture contributes over 25 percent of Nigeria’s GDP and remains the country’s largest employer. He urged member states to intensify policy coordination and expand knowledge-sharing, stating that “West Africa’s strength will be defined by the strength of its collaboration.”
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal announced Nigeria’s readiness to support the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on plastic management. He warned that over 2 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually across the region pose serious risks to food security, public health and climate resilience.
He said the Regional Action Plan provides a harmonised framework for transitioning to sustainable plastic production, strengthening extended producer responsibility systems, advancing circular economy value chains and enhancing regional monitoring and compliance. Nigeria, he added, fully aligns with the plan’s objectives.
Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Damtien Tchintchibidja, noted that 12 percent of West Africa’s population remains food insecure, citing climate change, weak markets, incoherent policies, restrictive trade regimes and conflict as key drivers.
She said the Commission is implementing strategic projects to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, promote trade, advance industrial development and foster inclusive growth across member states — all in line with ECOWAS Vision 2050 and Agenda 2063.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of our economies,” she said. “By investing in soil health and fertilizer access, we are laying the foundation for resilient agriculture capable of feeding our people and creating jobs for youth and women.”
The Abuja sessions are expected to help translate regional commitments into practical systems that support sustainable growth and economic integration across the ECOWAS region.
