The British Government has made plans to announce a new package of support to make Nigeria’s agriculture sector more climate resilient to boost critical agriculture and food systems for the benefit of people, climate and nature.
According to the statement released by the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly who is arriving Nigeria on Tuesday for his continuation of four-day African visit where he is prioritising future-focussed, mutually -beneficial partnerships.
It stated that this new funding will help boost the Nigerian agricultural sector’s productivity and resilience to the impacts of climate change, transforming critical agriculture and food systems for the benefit of people, climate and nature.
More than two thirds of Nigeria’s population depend on agriculture for employment as UK support will help to develop heat and flood tolerant crops and increase soil fertility, also the support will help grow the UK’s economy by alleviating some of the agricultural trade barriers to UK imports.
In Lagos today, the Foreign Secretary will announce £10 million UK-backed facility in Nigeria, in partnership with finance company InfraCredit that will unlock funding for sustainable and climate-friendly infrastructure development projects providing renewable energy services to homes in urban areas, as well as green housing.
On Wednesday, in Abuja he will announce a £55 million Propcom+ contract, a UK International Climate Finance programme which aims to support the transformation of Nigeria’s rural economy, and a £2.89 million grant, will support more than four million people across Nigeria to adopt and scale up sustainable agricultural practices.
This includes improving the health of animals, making crops more resilient, and introducing cleaner cooking practices. This in turn will help increase productivity, capacity and resilience among small-scale farmers and rural communities across Nigeria while reducing carbon emissions and protecting natural ecosystems.
James Cleverly said Nigeria has a booming population and the largest economy in Africa, adding that there is huge potential for an even closer partnership between UK and Nigerian businesses which will be of mutual benefit to both countries.
The Foreign Secretary said, “Together we are focussing on the future, putting in place green, clean measures, both in agriculture and infrastructure development, to create climate-resilient solutions for the global challenges we all face today and will increasingly face in the years to come”.
On his first visit to Nigeria, the Foreign Secretary will also visit a UN Humanitarian Air Service centre in Nigeria’s capital Abuja where he will hear how over £38 million of UK funding has helped vulnerable communities in the North-East of Nigeria.
Over four million people are facing food insecurity, and two million children under five are acutely malnourished in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. This funding is helping to protect people, build their resilience to the ongoing food shortage crisis, and prevent famine.
The Foreign Secretary will also meet Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Security Advisor Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to discuss the UK-Nigeria partnership and key common priorities, including how to increase bilateral trade, investment, economic development, regional issues, and strengthened security cooperation.