The Federal Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will on July 15 unveil a $500 million Niger Delta Agricultural Investment Fund, a major initiative aimed at transforming agriculture, creating jobs and accelerating non-oil economic growth across the nine Niger Delta states.
The fund, which will be launched during the maiden Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Summit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, will be overseen by a Board of Trustees chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Speaking at a joint press briefing on Thursday, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, said the summit, endorsed by President Bola Tinubu, is expected to attract about 500 delegates, including investors, development finance institutions, policymakers and agricultural experts.
According to Hadejia, the initiative reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to unlocking the vast agricultural potential of the Niger Delta, a region better known for crude oil but endowed with rich resources for producing cash and food crops.
He said the summit marks a shift from “potential to performance” by positioning agriculture as a key driver of economic diversification, food security, investment and job creation.
Hadejia also clarified that the new investment fund would not duplicate the work of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, explaining that while the council coordinates national food policies, the new vehicle is a commercially managed fund dedicated to financing large-scale agricultural projects in the Niger Delta.
Providing further details, NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the summit evolved from discussions with agriculture commissioners from the nine Niger Delta states on how to diversify the region’s economy beyond crude oil.
He disclosed that the $500 million fund would support investments across key agricultural value chains, including palm oil, cassava, cocoa, rice, horticulture, livestock and marine resources, while the newly established Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Council would coordinate implementation.
Ogbuku said the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s directive to unlock the Niger Delta’s economic potential through increased non-oil investments, stressing that agriculture remains central to inclusive growth and sustainable development.
He noted that the commission has also provided N5 billion to the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to support small agribusinesses, partnered with private investors on agricultural projects and continued funding the IFAD-backed LIFE-ND programme.
Making a strong case to investors, Ogbuku described the Niger Delta as one of the safest regions for agricultural investment, saying improved security, fertile land and abundant natural resources make it an attractive destination for large-scale agribusiness.
He expressed optimism that the new investment fund would help reposition the Niger Delta as a major agricultural hub while boosting food production, employment and economic prosperity across the region.
