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Nigeria and Brazil have officially entered the commercial phase of the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project (GIP), a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s food security and driving private-sector investment in agriculture.
According to a statement released by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), the agreement marks a crucial step in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“The Green Imperative Project is Africa’s largest agricultural initiative, focusing on sustainable, low-carbon farming.
“It seeks to create the necessary infrastructure to improve food production in Nigeria efficiently and competitively,” the statement read.
Originally signed in 2018, the GIP agreement has since expanded, with additional financing agreements signed in Brazil during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit last year.
This includes a $4.3 billion second phase and a $2.5 billion JBS initiative, bringing the total value of agricultural investments to around $8 billion.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized that the project aligns with President Tinubu’s agenda to tackle food insecurity and attract investment.
“As we address food security challenges and implement President Tinubu’s eight-point agenda, initiatives like the GIP are vital for policy continuity and leveraging strategic opportunities for economic growth and investor confidence,” Shettima stated.
The Vice President also noted that the GIP is designed to integrate smallholder farmers into the agricultural value chain, addressing longstanding challenges in the sector.
He stressed that while Nigerians are naturally entrepreneurial, many lack the financial and technical support needed to thrive.
“This initiative is a game-changer because it connects small-scale farmers with the necessary resources and markets,” Shettima added.
Brazilian Ambassador: Project to enhance local agricultural equipment production
The Ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria, Carlos Garcete, expressed satisfaction with the agreement, highlighting that negotiations with Nigeria had been ongoing for seven years to secure funding from private and regional development banks.
He noted that the project would facilitate the importation of agricultural equipment, including tractors and spare parts, while also promoting local assembly and maintenance.
“In the event of a breakdown, repairs will be carried out in Nigeria by trained personnel under the GIP framework,” Garcete explained, emphasizing the long-term benefits of technology transfer and job creation.
Governors applaud Tinubu’s commitment to agricultural transformation
State governors present at the signing ceremony hailed the agreement as a crucial step toward revolutionizing Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi highlighted the project’s significance, stating, “At the sub-national level, this is a major milestone because agriculture remains central to our economic development.”
Similarly, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia described the signing as a proud moment, reaffirming Benue’s role as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
He assured full support for the project, adding, “Benue not only holds the basket but also provides the food and its surpluses.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, who also attended the event, commended the deal as a symbol of South-South cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil.
He noted that Brazil has demonstrated agricultural success by transforming vast savannahs into productive farmlands, a feat Nigeria hopes to replicate through the Green Imperative Project.