The Niger State Government has unveiled new partnerships with both local and international investors to strengthen dairy and sugar production, marking another significant step in its ambitious agricultural transformation agenda.
The development was disclosed in separate statements released on Monday and Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Umaru Bago, Bologi Ibrahim.
According to the statements, Governor Bago emphasized that the new collaborations are part of a broader effort to reposition Niger State as Nigeria’s leading hub for agribusiness and food security.
Strategic Partnerships for Agricultural Transformation
Governor Bago, who led a team of development partners and investors to inspect one of the Niger Food farms, said the state is strategically leveraging these partnerships to improve productivity in the livestock and dairy sectors, while also expanding sugar production capacity.
He explained that his administration’s goal is to attract private sector participation and long-term investments into key agricultural value chains to create jobs, improve rural livelihoods, and strengthen the state’s internally generated revenue base.
“We are leveraging on development partners to boost our livestock industry, especially in dairy production,” Bago said.
“Our vision is to make Niger State a model for agricultural industrialization in Nigeria, and we are building the right partnerships to achieve that.”
Boosting Dairy and Sugar Production
The governor noted that Niger State has the natural resources, vast landmass, and climate advantage needed to become a major player in Nigeria’s dairy and sugar industries.
He revealed that the government has identified several large-scale farms suitable for dairy processing and sugarcane cultivation, adding that talks are already underway with investors from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Some of these investors, according to government officials, are interested in establishing dairy collection centers, milk processing plants, and integrated sugar mills that would source raw materials from local farmers across the state.
Investment-Friendly Policies
Governor Bago reiterated his administration’s commitment to maintaining an investment-friendly environment through policy reforms, infrastructure development, and transparent governance.
He said the Niger State Agricultural Transformation Agenda (NSATA) was designed to support agribusiness through incentives such as tax waivers, land acquisition support, and access to credit facilities for genuine investors.
“Our administration is determined to make agriculture a profitable venture for both local farmers and large-scale investors. We are creating an ecosystem where everyone benefits — from the herder in Paikoro to the investor in Minna,” the governor added.
Collaboration with Development Partners
The Niger State Government has been collaborating with international development partners such as the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to implement large-scale projects aimed at enhancing food security.
According to government sources, some of the ongoing initiatives include:
- The Niger Food Project, which promotes large-scale mechanized farming.
- The Livestock Transformation Initiative, focused on sustainable dairy and beef production.
- The Sugar Expansion Program, designed to attract investors into sugarcane cultivation and processing.
These projects are expected to increase productivity, reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported dairy and sugar products, and open up thousands of employment opportunities for Niger youths.
Economic and Social Impact
Experts believe that Niger State’s focus on dairy and sugar production could play a key role in achieving the Federal Government’s broader goal of self-sufficiency in food and industrial raw materials.
Agricultural analysts also note that the initiative will help tackle issues of rural poverty, improve nutritional outcomes through increased milk supply, and support Nigeria’s net export potential.
The Bago administration’s renewed agricultural push has already attracted attention from both private investors and international donors, with commitments reportedly running into several millions of dollars.
The Bigger Picture
Niger State, which boasts one of the largest land areas in Nigeria, is positioning itself as the country’s new agricultural frontier. Governor Bago’s government has invested heavily in rural roads, irrigation systems, and farm mechanization as part of its vision to build what it calls “The Niger Food Economy.”
By prioritizing dairy and sugar production, the administration aims to diversify the state’s economy away from over-dependence on federal allocations, while transforming the lives of local farmers.
As the partnerships mature, Niger State is expected to host some of the largest integrated dairy and sugar projects in West Africa, aligning with Nigeria’s long-term goals of food security, industrial growth, and export diversification.
