ACCI, NACCIMA, NIRSAL Push for Increased Investment to Transform Agriculture, Boost Exports
Alex Joseph
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), have called for increased private-sector investment in agricultural technology, mechanisation, processing and financing to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector and boost non-oil exports.
The call was made at the maiden edition of AgroMeqa Expo 2026, held at the Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, Trade and Convention Centre, ACCI Complex, Abuja.
The two-day event, themed “Technology and Investment for Agro-Export,” brought together policymakers, investors, agricultural practitioners, members of the diplomatic community and other stakeholders to explore investment opportunities and strategies for improving productivity across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, urged investors to explore opportunities in dairy production, red meat processing, leather manufacturing and commercial fodder production to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s livestock sector.
Maiha said livestock currently contributes an estimated $32 billion to Nigeria’s economy, noting that the Federal Government is targeting an increase to $74 billion.
He also highlighted NACCIMA’s announcement of a proposed $50 billion livestock investment initiative over 10 years, describing the scale of the investment ambition as an opportunity to establish productive enterprises, generate sustainable employment and strengthen Nigeria’s export capacity.
The minister identified dairy production as a priority area for reducing the country’s dependence on imported dairy products. He also called for modern meat-processing facilities and refrigerated transportation systems to improve product quality and facilitate access to domestic and international markets.
According to him, greater investment in local leather processing would enable Nigeria to move beyond semi-processed products, while commercial fodder production would improve livestock productivity.
He further stressed the importance of animal health, traceability systems, processing infrastructure and appropriate technologies in enhancing product quality, conserving foreign exchange, strengthening food security and creating economic opportunities for women and young people.
In his opening remarks, the President of ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, PhD, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to private-sector-led economic growth through technology adoption, investment mobilisation and stronger market linkages.
Obegolu said Nigeria needed to move away from traditional farming methods towards mechanised and commercially viable agricultural systems capable of increasing productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, creating jobs and expanding non-oil exports.
He emphasised that agricultural transformation required coordinated investment in modern equipment, processing facilities and market infrastructure to enable farmers and agribusiness operators to compete effectively.
Similarly, the President of NACCIMA, Engr. Dr Jani Ibrahim, mni, OON, called for increased private capital to develop competitive agricultural value chains and position Nigerian agribusinesses for greater participation in regional and international markets.
Delivering a keynote address, Ibrahim identified farm machinery, processing and storage facilities, appropriate financing, quality assurance, logistics and market access as critical areas requiring investment.
He stressed that Nigeria must increase the proportion of agricultural produce processed locally, comply with international quality standards and establish reliable commercial relationships to improve its competitiveness in global agricultural trade.
The Executive Director, Operations, NIRSAL, Dr Ewaen Imohe, identified inadequate mechanisation, fragmented production systems, infrastructure deficits and limited access to finance as major constraints to agricultural productivity.
Imohe advocated farmer clustering to achieve economies of scale, alongside renewable-energy solutions to reduce operating costs and innovative financing arrangements to improve access to agricultural machinery.
He also highlighted NIRSAL’s Land Bank Initiative, through which more than 100,000 hectares of agricultural land have been mapped to support commercially viable production clusters and attract investment into the agricultural sector.
According to him, addressing structural challenges in agricultural production would help establish more efficient farming systems and create opportunities for investors across the agricultural value chain.
The Director-General of ACCI, Agbaidu Jideani, commended the organisers for delivering the maiden edition of AgroMeqa Expo, expressing optimism that the event would expand in subsequent editions.
He noted that the level of participation recorded on the opening day was encouraging and expressed confidence that the Expo would provide a sustainable platform for agricultural investment, innovation and business development.
The Expo featured two panel sessions focusing on critical issues affecting agricultural development.
The sessions were titled “Mechanisation and Precision Agriculture: From Subsistence to Commercial Production” and “Unlocking Capital for Agriculture: Financing the Modern Agro-Industrial Value Chain.”
Both sessions were moderated by Dr Olasetemi Bode Thompson, ACCI Vice President, Agriculture, Chairman of JMT Plus Farms and convener of AgroMeqa Expo 2026.
Other panellists included Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, ACCI First Deputy President; Dr Thomas Olugenga Arokoyo, Managing Consultant, Garvent Consult; Dr Godwin Uche Ukel, ACCI Chairman of Agriculture; Mr Mustapha Bakano Othman, National President of the Nigerian Cassava Growers Association; and Mr Nasir Adama of the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation.
Discussions centred on expanding mechanisation and precision agriculture, improving access to agricultural finance, strengthening production systems and developing an efficient, commercially driven agro-industrial value chain.
Participants also underscored the need to connect farmers with technology providers, processors, financial institutions and export markets to improve efficiency and profitability across the sector.
They called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, investors, development partners, research institutions and private-sector operators to improve product quality, strengthen storage and processing infrastructure and reduce production costs.
Stakeholders further highlighted the opportunities available to Nigerian agribusinesses under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing the importance of meeting international standards and improving the competitiveness of locally produced agricultural goods.
The Expo is expected to continue on October 16, providing additional opportunities for stakeholder engagement, business networking and the exploration of agricultural technologies and investment prospects.
AgroMeqa Expo 2026 is organised by ACCI through its Agricultural Trade Group in collaboration with JMT Plus Farms and Agro-Allied. The initiative seeks to establish a sustainable platform for agricultural innovation, investment facilitation, agribusiness development and export promotion.
