AFAN: Nigeria’s return to agriculture driven by necessity, not strategy

Nigeria’s renewed focus on farming is a reaction to falling oil revenue, not a deliberate plan for food security, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria has said.

AFAN Secretary General Otunba Dr. Babafemi Oke, speaking on _Sabenko_, a Yoruba-language public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, said the country abandoned agriculture after the oil boom and is only “going back” as crude sales slump.

“Nigeria started with farming. The green in our flag stands for agriculture, white for peace, and the second green also for agriculture. But once petrol came, we didn’t pay attention to it,” Oke said. “When fuel started fluctuating, government had to go back to agriculture during Buhari’s tenure. Thank God, we’ve been trying.”

He said progress has been made, but the shift remains reactive. Past administrations, flush with petroleum revenue, failed to sustain investment in the sector, leaving it underdeveloped for decades.

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● North leads, South-West waking up

Oke flagged regional gaps in participation. Northern states maintain stronger engagement due to consistent government support, while the South-West is only recently showing improvement.

“Some years ago, we were complaining here in the South-West that they did not bring ordinary tomatoes and scotch bonnet. But now people are waking up from their slumber. We are grateful for the farmers here taking it seriously in Yoruba land,” he said.

Youth disengagement remains a major hurdle. “You will see youths that studied and graduated from agriculture telling you they want to work in banks, oil companies. We are campaigning and talking to parents that if we don’t engage our children in work they know, such work will vanish. But thank God we are already seeing a huge difference,” Oke said.

● Women holding up production

AFAN credits women and grassroots farmers for sustaining production, especially in the South-West, despite limited access to resources.

“Our youths are already engaging in it, even the mothers. That is why when we want to make law, we put theirs first before we add that of the youths,” Oke said. “We are also talking to government: what about our women in agric who are doing wonderful work? We have to give them incentives — maybe they want to borrow money or sell something. We should put theirs apart. We are happy our efforts are not wasted.”

● Land, subsidy, and inputs

Access to land remains a constraint. AFAN now negotiates with governments and traditional rulers to repurpose unused land for farming through lease agreements. Oke cited Lagos State, where large tracts were secured for agriculture, leading to cluster farming systems.

“We talk to the baale, king or chiefs: let’s give the government this land or let’s borrow it and pay little by little. It is not like we want to collect it permanently. For the past 15 years, we’ve been seeing a huge difference,” he said.

On inputs, Oke praised ongoing subsidies under the Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund. “If it cost ₦5,000, they will give us for ₦2,500 and farmers are really happy about the development.”

He said President Bola Tinubu recently summoned AFAN over fertilizer distribution under the Renewed Hope Agenda. “Government allocated 3,040 bags to each state through NADF.”

● Fuel prices driving food inflation

Oke linked soaring food prices directly to transport costs. “If we don’t have vehicles to transport harvested products and we hire, drivers are calling prices higher than the profit we make. Tell me, why won’t we sell at a higher price?”

He added: “See how much we are selling eggs. Since I was born, this is the first time I’m seeing a crate of egg selling at ₦5,000.”

AFAN’s position is clear: Nigeria is farming again because oil failed, not because policy succeeded. Women and smallholders are filling the gap. But without strategy — on youth, land, and logistics — necessity alone won’t feed 220 million people.