Nigeria, along with ten other Sahel countries, is seeking $6 billion in partnerships and investments to irrigate 1.2 million hectares of agricultural land across the region, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Wednesday.
The announcement was made at the National and Subregional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum held in Abuja.
Mrs. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for West Africa and FAO Representative for Senegal, described the forum as a strategic platform to translate regional priorities into actionable investment plans.
“In West Africa and the Sahel, the challenges we face, notably climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, food insecurity, and youth unemployment, are complex and interconnected. However, the good news is that the solutions are also interconnected. The Hand-in-Hand Initiative particularly offers a pathway to unlock these solutions,” she said.
Stephen-Tchicaya emphasised the importance of irrigation as a tool for food security and climate adaptation.
“First, irrigation is not just a technical solution; it is a strategic enabler. It enhances productivity, builds resilience against climate change, and empowers communities. The investment cases we will discuss in the next two days will demonstrate how irrigation can be a driver of food sovereignty and adaptation to climate change,” she said.
According to FAO, the ten participating Sahel countries—Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal—will present five-year irrigation investment plans in collaboration with sub-regional organizations including the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). These plans target the irrigation or rehabilitation of 1.2 million hectares, with an estimated total cost of $8 billion. About $2 billion has already been committed by the countries, leaving a $6 billion funding gap.
“Countries are therefore seeking partnerships with resource partners to help bridge the USD 6 billion gap. In addition, market linkages and value chain development are being factored in to ensure reliable outlets for produce from irrigated areas,” Stephen-Tchicaya said.
She added that the forum would facilitate matchmaking between governments and investors to mobilize the necessary funding and contribute to poverty reduction and the fight against malnutrition, noting that nearly one in five people in Africa, or 307 million, experienced hunger in 2024.
Dr. Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, highlighted three strategic pillars for action: sustainable land and water management, transformation of agri-food production systems, and stronger research and innovation capacity.
He also called on governments to prioritise agriculture in national development plans.
“Your leadership is critical and catalytic. Simplify political processes for investors and ensure that your national policies create an enabling environment for climate-smart, inclusive businesses,” Gadain said.
The forum represents a coordinated effort to attract regional and international investment to enhance irrigation infrastructure, support climate resilience, and improve food security across the Sahel region.
