FG Launches National Cooperative Reform Committee to Drive Food Security, Economic Growth

…Targets Digital Transformation, Cooperative Bank, Job Creation Under Renewed Hope Agenda

By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters

In a major push to strengthen food security, expand financial inclusion, and stimulate sustainable economic development, the Federal Government has inaugurated a National Steering Committee (NSC) to oversee the implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP) 2025–2030.

The committee is expected to spearhead far-reaching reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s cooperative sector into a modern, digitally-driven engine for agricultural productivity, enterprise development, job creation, poverty reduction, and inclusive economic growth.

The inauguration was announced in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Head of the Department of Information.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, described cooperatives as critical instruments for achieving the Federal Government’s food security and economic development agenda.

According to him, the reform programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and seeks to reposition cooperatives as transparent, productive, investment-ready, and technology-enabled institutions.

“The RH-CRRP is fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and seeks to transform cooperatives into modern, digitally enabled, transparent, productive, and investment-ready institutions capable of driving national development,” Abdullahi said.

The minister explained that the programme, approved by the National Council on Cooperative Affairs (NCCA), represents a transformative national framework designed to reposition Nigeria’s cooperative ecosystem as a strategic vehicle for food security, wealth creation, financial inclusion, and social empowerment.

“This occasion marks another significant milestone in the implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme. It is a transformative framework aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s cooperative sector as a strategic vehicle for food security, economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction and social empowerment,” he stated.

Abdullahi noted that the newly inaugurated committee would serve as the apex policy and coordination body for the programme and would oversee key initiatives, including the establishment of a Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, deployment of a National Cooperative Smart Registry, introduction of Cooperative Verification Numbers (CVN), and Cooperative Member Identification Numbers (CoopID).

Other priority areas include strengthening cooperative governance, promoting agricultural value chains through Farmers Producer Cooperative Organisations (FPCOs), empowering women, youths, persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, modernising cooperative laws, and instituting a robust monitoring and accountability framework.

Charging committee members to approach their assignment with dedication and integrity, the minister stressed that success would be measured by tangible outcomes rather than administrative activities.

“The success of the RH-CRRP will not be measured by the number of meetings held or reports produced. It will be measured by the number of cooperatives strengthened, farmers empowered, jobs created, enterprises established, citizens financially included, and communities transformed,” he said.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, described the committee as the highest oversight and policy-guidance body for the implementation of the reform programme.

He said the committee would provide strategic leadership necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative across the country.

“The RH-CRRP National Steering Committee is established as the apex oversight, coordination, advisory and policy-guidance body for the implementation of the programme,” Ogunbiyi noted.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Director of the Federal Department of Cooperatives, Dr. Mohammed Abdulkadir, said the reform programme was conceived as a comprehensive framework to transform Nigeria’s cooperative sector into a catalyst for rural development, food security, economic prosperity and national growth.

According to him, the initiative seeks to position cooperatives as strategic engines of inclusive economic development and sustainable livelihoods.

The National Steering Committee is chaired by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and comprises representatives from key federal ministries, regulatory agencies, financial institutions, cooperative organisations, private sector bodies, anti-corruption agencies, civil society groups and development stakeholders.

Among its responsibilities are policy oversight, programme coordination, cooperative digitalisation, financing and investment mobilisation, institutional strengthening, legal reforms, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, evaluation and accountability.

The Federal Government expressed confidence that the committee would play a critical role in delivering the objectives of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme and accelerating Nigeria’s quest for food security, economic resilience and sustainable national development.