Niger State Governor, Muhammad Umaru Bago, has raised concerns over Africa’s growing dependence on food imports—valued at a staggering $55 billion annually, including essential items like maize, wheat, oils, and rice.
During a strategic meeting with officials of Arab Contractors in Cairo, Egypt, Governor Bago secured a landmark agreement to boost agricultural production, signaling a major step toward food self-sufficiency across the continent.
“Africa must rethink food security. With its vast resources and youthful population, the continent has what it takes to reduce food imports,” Bago stated.
He emphasized that Niger State alone has over 1,850km of riverfront land ideal for irrigation, and 5 million hectares of arable land capable of yielding 50 million tons of food—a goldmine for agricultural investment.
Egypt to Partner with Niger State
In response, Ahmed Moustafa El Assar, Global Chairman of Arab Contractors, pledged to visit Niger State in May 2025 alongside officials from Egypt’s Ministries of Agriculture and Irrigation. Their mission: explore opportunities in agriculture and assess how Egypt can support Nigeria’s food security agenda.
“The Egyptian government is fully committed to supporting food security in both Egypt and Nigeria,” El Assar affirmed.
This partnership reflects a growing momentum for African collaboration in agriculture, leveraging local strengths to reduce dependency on foreign food supply chains.
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