Commission, Presidency to Convene Agric Summit as Region Shifts Focus from Oil to Food Security
For decades, the Niger Delta has been defined by its oil wealth and the environmental and socio-economic challenges associated with petroleum exploration. Today, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is championing a new vision—one that places agriculture at the center of the region’s economic transformation and sustainable development.
In pursuit of this vision, the Office of the Vice President, in collaboration with the NDDC, will host the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Summit on July 15, 2026, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.
The summit will formally launch the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Fund, establish a coordinated platform for agricultural development and investment, and outline a demand-driven strategy for creating a credible pipeline of bankable agricultural projects across the region. It is also expected to mobilize the commitment of government, investors, development partners, and the private sector towards unlocking the vast agricultural potential of the Niger Delta.
Building on Regional Collaboration
Preparations for the summit began with a regional agricultural workshop convened by the NDDC in 2025. Supported by the governors of the nine Niger Delta states, the workshop brought together commissioners, permanent secretaries, and directors of agriculture to identify priorities and develop a common framework for agricultural development.
Following the workshop, the NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, met with Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, who was ably represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Hadijia Ibrahim, to review the state of agriculture in the Niger Delta and finalize plans for the summit.
The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the administration’s commitment to revitalizing agriculture as a key driver of economic diversification, food security, and job creation.
Unlocking Agricultural Potential
The summit will provide a high-level platform for stakeholders to address long-standing challenges confronting agriculture in the Niger Delta, attract investment, strengthen agricultural value chains, and develop practical strategies for transforming the region’s agricultural economy over the next decade.
Despite its rich biodiversity and fertile land, the Niger Delta has faced persistent challenges that have limited agricultural productivity. The summit seeks to reposition these challenges as opportunities for sustainable food production and economic growth.
As part of the preparations, Dr. Ogbuku also met with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, to brief him on the objectives of the summit.
The minister pledged the technical support of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to ensure the success of the event. Discussions also highlighted ongoing federal interventions in the region, including the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project, the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, and private-sector investments in strategic value chains such as oil palm, cocoa, cassava, rubber, and rice.
These interventions are expected to improve productivity, stimulate economic growth, and generate employment opportunities across the Niger Delta.
A Regional Food System
The NDDC’s strategy is to build on the comparative advantages of each Niger Delta state by strengthening existing agricultural value chains. Bayelsa’s aquaculture, Delta’s cassava production, Rivers’ fisheries, Ondo’s cocoa industry, and Edo’s oil palm sector are among the regional strengths expected to be integrated into a coordinated agricultural ecosystem capable of enhancing food security and attracting investment.
According to Dr. Ogbuku, the Commission remains committed to aligning its programs with President Tinubu’s vision of using agriculture as a platform for peace, security, and prosperity in the Niger Delta.
Similarly, the NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Winifred Madume, reaffirmed the Commission’s determination to implement the agricultural component of the Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting food security and sustainable livelihoods across the region.
Mechanizing Agriculture for Growth
Recognizing agriculture as a critical pathway to economic diversification, the NDDC has intensified efforts to modernize farming in the Niger Delta.
The Commission has distributed more than 100 tractors to the Ministries of Agriculture across the nine Niger Delta states to promote mechanized farming and increase food production.
It has also trained 11 agricultural engineers in India on tractor operation and maintenance to support the Commission’s mechanized agriculture program.
In addition, the NDDC is partnering with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on a $60 million job creation program aimed at reducing youth unemployment through agriculture.
Beyond mechanization, the Commission has implemented entrepreneurship development programs for youth and women, provided microcredit support for trained farmers, and distributed tractors, fishing equipment, and other agricultural inputs to farmers and fisherfolk across the region.
The Commission also established two rice processing plants with a combined capacity of 210 metric tons per day at Elele Alimini in Rivers State and Mbiabet-Ikpe in Akwa Ibom State to boost local rice production and encourage community-based out-grower schemes.
Towards a New Agricultural Future
Before the discovery of oil, agriculture and fishing were the primary sources of livelihood for most Niger Delta communities. However, decades of oil exploration, gas flaring, and environmental degradation significantly reduced agricultural productivity, leaving many rural residents unemployed.
The NDDC believes the region can reverse this trend through modern, technology-driven agriculture capable of restoring livelihoods, improving food security, and stimulating inclusive economic growth.
The July 15 summit is expected to produce a comprehensive agricultural master plan for the Niger Delta covering the period 2026–2030, providing a practical roadmap for investment, policy coordination, and implementation.
Although several agricultural conferences are scheduled across Nigeria in 2026, including the Africa FARMTECH Expo in Lagos and the Agric Summit Africa in Abuja, the NDDC summit stands out as the only major event dedicated exclusively to the agricultural transformation of the nine Niger Delta states.
With agriculture once again taking center stage, the Commission is seeking to redefine the Niger Delta, not only as Nigeria’s oil-producing region but also as a leading hub for sustainable agriculture, food security, and economic prosperity.