Nigeria and Brazil have formally entered the commercial phase of the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project (GIP), a transformative initiative to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector and increase private sector investment. The agreement, signed at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, marks a pivotal step toward achieving sustainable agriculture and boosting food production in Nigeria.
The GIP is the most extensive agricultural initiative on the African continent, designed to implement low-carbon, sustainable farming practices. The project’s primary objective is to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of food production across Nigeria, integrating small-scale farmers into robust agricultural value chains.
Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized the project’s alignment with the Tinubu administration’s eight-point agenda, which prioritizes economic diversification, job creation, and food security. He described the GIP as a significant catalyst for policy continuity and investor confidence.
“As this administration addresses the food security challenges we are facing and dovetails the 8-point agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we must synergize and use existing initiatives such as the GIP for the purpose of policy continuity, for the purpose of utilizing or leveraging on strategic opportunities to drive our economic growth and also to enhance investor confidence,” Shettima stated.
The Green Imperative Project traces its origins to 2018 when the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Subsequent phases have seen expanded commitments, including a $4.3 billion Phase 2 agreement and a $2.5 billion Joint Bilateral Strategy (JBS) finalized during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Brazil earlier this year.
Private-Sector Participation and Long-Term Sustainability
A key aspect of the GIP is its private sector-driven approach, ensuring sustainability and creating direct connections between small-scale farmers and agricultural value chains. Vice President Shettima highlighted the need to leverage Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit while addressing the structural gaps hindering agricultural productivity.
“We have been battling with low agricultural productivity for decades, and as I have always said, entrepreneurial capitalism is embedded in the very psyche of the average Nigerian, but what our people are lacking is the wherewithal to be placed on the first ladder of development,” he remarked.
Carlos Garcete, Brazil’s Ambassador to Nigeria, reiterated his country’s dedication to enhancing Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He revealed that the agreement followed extensive negotiations to secure funding from private and regional development banks. The GIP will facilitate the importation of essential agricultural machinery while promoting local assembly and maintenance, creating jobs and reducing costs.
“Over the past seven years, there has been negotiation with the Nigerian government with a view to obtaining the necessary funds from private and regional development banks to finance this ambitious project, which is worth approximately $1.1 billion dollars…if a tractor breaks down, repairs can be made in Nigeria by staff trained under the GIP framework,” Garcete stated.
The GIP marks a significant step toward transforming Nigeria’s agriculture, ensuring food security, and promoting economic growth. By harnessing the power of strategic partnerships and private sector investments, the initiative aims to modernize Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, empowering small-scale farmers and establishing sustainable value chains.
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