Vice President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that Nigeria is implementing a major infrastructure development strategy aimed at transforming agriculture into a leading driver of economic growth and food security.
Shettima made the disclosure during a tour of agricultural facilities in Oromia, Ethiopia, as part of the Ethiopia-Nigeria Leadership Exchange Programme.
The Vice President said the initiative is designed to address supply chain challenges, reduce investment risks and attract large-scale private sector participation in agriculture.
He praised Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation, particularly in wheat production, describing the Oromia model as a blueprint for Africa’s agricultural renaissance.
According to Shettima, Ethiopia has successfully moved from spending about $1 billion annually on wheat imports to becoming self-sufficient and exporting surplus production to neighbouring countries.
He noted that Nigeria plans to adopt several of Ethiopia’s successful strategies, including mechanised farming, improved seed varieties and climate-smart agricultural practices.
The Vice President emphasised that food security is closely linked to national sovereignty, warning that excessive dependence on imported food undermines a country’s independence and long-term stability.
He expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between Nigeria and Ethiopia could significantly strengthen food production across Africa.
Shettima also announced plans for a nationwide tree-planting campaign aimed at planting 20 billion trees beginning next rainy season. According to him, the initiative will draw inspiration from Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative and support both environmental restoration and job creation.
Earlier, Oromia Regional State President Shimelis Abdisa highlighted Ethiopia’s agricultural achievements, noting that more than 200 crop varieties are cultivated across the country and that wheat production generates over $3.1 billion annually.
He also disclosed that the region is collaborating with the Dangote Group on fertiliser production to support farmers and boost agricultural productivity.
