By Akpan Glory

Mr Abiodun Olaniyi, Project Coordinator of the Nigeria International Agriculture Expo (NIAEXPO 2025), says the annual fair showcases Nigeria’s agricultural potential and builds stronger partnerships across the value chain.

Olaniyi, who is also Executive Director of Agriquest Africa Network, said this at the opening of the seventh edition of the expo in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the event attracted participants from Indonesia, China, India, the United States, Canada and several Nigerian states, including Lagos and Rivers.

Olaniyi said the expo provided a platform to showcase Nigeria’s agricultural potential and promote innovations by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

“We saw a wide range of innovations from SMEs and MSMEs. International exhibitors also brought unique solutions, including organic farming practices, agroecology models and locally assembled electric vehicles for agro-logistics by firms like Simba.

“These are important steps toward solving challenges in the agricultural value chain,” he said.

Olaniyi said the 2025 edition highlighted Nigeria’s prospects of achieving its 2030 agricultural vision through sustainable practices and inclusive participation.

He explained that the organisers hosted the expo in Abuja to attract policymakers and stakeholders from across the country.

He added: “I don’t believe in problems; I see challenges. For every challenge, there is a solution, and that solution can create business opportunities. With every edition, we learn, adjust and improve”.

Olaniyi said the inclusion of persons with disabilities in this year’s edition showed the organisers’ commitment to inclusivity.

He expressed confidence that the 2026 edition would expand the scope of the expo and deliver greater impact across the value chain.

Earlier, Mr Tony Ifeakandu, Managing Director of Autodex Nigeria Ltd., said his company showcased a locally assembled electric tricycle to provide affordable transport solutions for farmers.

He said the firm would in November host the Farm, Machinery, Food, Agro Technology Expo and Conference (FAMFATEC) to bring together stakeholders in agriculture, finance and export.

“The event will feature AfriExim Bank and U.S. Exim Bank, who will discuss export financing and challenges facing Nigerian products in global markets,” he said.

Ifeakandu said the expo would also address organic farming, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and strategies to revive Nigerian agriculture.

He identified logistics as one of the biggest challenges in the sector, noting that high transport costs push up food prices.

“If we can reduce the cost of moving farm produce to the market, we will reduce food prices. Our goal is to provide alternatives to what already exists in the marketplace,” he said.

Dr Rohit Berry, Chairman of Contec Global Agro Limited (CGAL), said the company was promoting biological products to boost food security and reduce health risks from chemical farming.

Berry said high chemical residues had denied many Nigerian agricultural products access to international markets.

He said CGAL had developed 23 bio-products to fight crop diseases such as rice blight, tuta absoluta, armyworm and black pod disease.

He added that the company had established more than 250,000 demonstration farms across the country, tested the products with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and registered them with NAFDAC.

Berry, whose company has operated in Nigeria for over 40 years, urged the Federal Government to support agro-initiatives that would unlock Nigeria’s vast arable land for sustainable food production.

Also, Minister of Livestock Development, Mr Idi Maiha, reaffirmed government’s commitment to repositioning the livestock sector for global competitiveness.

Maiha, represented by Dr Alike Peter, Director, Technical, at the ministry, described agriculture as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, providing livelihoods, food security and GDP growth.

He said the ministry had developed the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS).

“It harmonises existing livestock policies, including the National Livestock Transformation Plan and the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee report”.

He said the NL-GAS set 10 pillars with measurable indicators to grow the livestock sector from 32 billion dollars in 2025 to 74 billion dollars by 2035, driven by private sector investment and subnational government support.

Also speaking, Dr Mohammed Ishaq, Executive Director of the National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, said the institute had developed new rice varieties for nationwide adoption.

He urged stakeholders to seek licensing and collaboration, stressing that Nigeria’s rice production still falls short of demand despite government’s self-sufficiency drive.

“We must increase productivity and expand the adoption of improved seeds. NCRI is committed to driving that process,” Ishaq said. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade