FG Unveils New Cooperative Reform Drive to Boost Food Security, Jobs
Bu Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
The Federal Government has launched a major reform initiative targeting Nigeria’s cooperative and agricultural sectors, inaugurating a high-level technical committee to drive inclusive growth, food security, and rural development under a new national framework.
This was contained in a press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Head of the Department of Information.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, said the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP) (2025–2030) is designed to reposition cooperatives as key drivers of economic transformation.
“The cooperative sector in Nigeria plays a vital role in the country’s economic development, contributing significantly to food security, job creation, economic growth, social cohesion, and poverty reduction,” he said.
He described the programme as a strategic response to longstanding structural challenges affecting the cooperative and agricultural ecosystems.
“By addressing the sector’s challenges and strengthening its institutions, the programme will enhance its contribution to Nigeria’s economic development and improve the lives of millions of Nigerians,” Abdullahi added.
The minister outlined seven key pillars of the initiative, including governance reforms, financing mechanisms such as the proposed Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digital transformation, capacity building, value chain development, and inclusion of youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
According to him, the programme is expected to improve access to funding, markets, and technology for cooperative societies, while strengthening partnerships across government, private sector, and civil society.
He also tasked the newly inaugurated committee to deliver on its mandate in alignment with the agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly the goal of building a $1 trillion economy within the decade.
“The committee must work assiduously to drive policy implementation, strengthen inter-ministerial collaboration, and support farmer cooperatives to boost food production and national development,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Director of the Federal Department of Cooperative, Mohammed Abdulkadir, noted that the initiative was approved at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs as Nigeria’s official framework for cooperative transformation.
“This programme provides a roadmap for revitalising Nigeria’s cooperative sector as a catalyst for inclusive growth and sustainable national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he stated.
The Ministerial Technical Committee comprises representatives from key departments and agencies within the ministry, as well as institutions such as the Bank of Agriculture and the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, with a mandate to coordinate policy implementation, support farmer cooperatives, and facilitate national food system programmes.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging the cooperative sector to drive economic growth, enhance food security, and improve livelihoods across the country.
