Agricultural Commodity Associations across Nigeria have formed a united front to strengthen food security, empower farmers, and drive national development in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
At a landmark meeting held in Abuja over the weekend, the coalition, made up of leaders of Nigeria’s major commodity-based farmers’ associations, pledged to develop and implement strategic plans aimed at boosting food production and improving the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers across the country.
In a communique signed by Engr. Aminu Muhammad, President of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), the coalition emphasized its readiness to collaborate with both government and private sector stakeholders to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“We are united as a coalition representing millions of grassroots smallholder farmers. With over 21 agricultural commodities under our umbrella—including maize, sorghum, millet, cassava, cocoa, rice, cotton, groundnuts, palm oil, sugarcane, legumes, tree crops, and tomatoes—we are well-positioned to drive Nigeria’s agricultural transformation,” Engr. Muhammad stated.
The coalition boasts an extensive national footprint, operating in 17,846 polling units, 8,909 electoral wards, and all 774 local government areas across the 36 states of Nigeria.
This reach, they said, gives them the capacity to deliver impactful agricultural interventions at the grassroots level.
Among their notable achievements is the significant reduction of Nigeria’s rice import bill—from $1.5 billion in 2015 to just $18.5 million in 2023.
Their collective efforts have also led to the creation of approximately 12.8 million direct and indirect jobs along various agricultural value chains.
Reflecting on their resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, the associations recalled their critical role in ensuring the nation’s food supply remained stable, despite global lockdowns and supply chain disruptions.
This, they said, underscored the value of homegrown agricultural systems driven by organized producer networks.
The coalition also acknowledged its broader contributions beyond farming, including grassroots political mobilization and consistent support for both federal and state-led development initiatives.
Present at the meeting were key figures in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including Anibe Achimugu – President, National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN); Bello Abubakar Anoor – President, Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN); Dr. Florence Edwards – President, Cotton Producers and Merchants Association of Nigeria (COPMAN); Umar Muhammad Baba – President, Soya Beans Farmers Association of Nigeria (SOFAN); Mustapha Othman B. – President, Nigeria Cassava Growers’ Association (NCGA); and Abdulkadir Ibrahim Gaya – President, National Association of Sorghum Producers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria (NASPPAM).
Also in attendance were senior executives, including Ado Sule – Director of Administration, NACOTAN; Umar Abdulkadir – Director of Administration and Finance, COPMAN; and Dr. Nasir Liman – Business and Finance Consultant.
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable food systems, stronger value chains, inclusive farmer empowerment, and national growth through continuous policy engagement and strategic partnerships.
Bello Wakili
