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Nigeria and Brazil have officially launched the commercial phase of the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project (GIP), a landmark initiative aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and attracting private-sector investment to strengthen food security.
The agreement was signed on Monday at the presidential villa in Abuja, marking a major step in President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to address food security challenges.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima hailed the project as a “strategic initiative” that aligns with the government’s economic agenda by integrating small-scale farmers into the agricultural value chain.
Originally initiated in 2018, the GIP is Africa’s largest agricultural project focused on sustainable, low-carbon farming.
The broader initiative, including the $4.3 billion second phase and the $2.5 billion JBS component signed during President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil last year, brings the total investment to approximately $8 billion.
Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Garcete, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the initiative, emphasizing its role in facilitating the importation and local assembly of agricultural machinery such as tractors.
He also highlighted the training of Nigerian personnel to ensure on-site maintenance and repairs.
State governors, including Umar Namadi of Jigawa and Hyacinth Alia of Benue, lauded the agreement as a transformative step for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar described it as a model for South-South cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil, reinforcing economic ties and agricultural development.
With its focus on policy continuity and private-sector-driven growth, the Green Imperative Project is set to play a pivotal role in driving Nigeria’s agricultural transformation and ensuring long-term food security.
