Abubakar Kyari, Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS)

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has warned that inefficiency in development partner–supported agricultural programmes will no longer be tolerated, signalling tighter oversight and stricter accountability across the sector.

Speaking at a meeting of the Combined National Project Steering Committee in Abuja, Kyari said the era of “business as usual” was over, stressing that agricultural programmes must align with national priorities and deliver measurable results under the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He announced the elevation of the Projects Coordinating Unit to a full Department of Development Partnership Projects, a move aimed at strengthening supervision, improving coordination and enforcing results-based management. Underperforming programmes, he said, would be restructured.

Kyari added that approval of 2026 workplans and budgets would no longer be routine, with proposals required to clearly support food security, productivity, value chain development, youth participation and inclusive growth. Budgets, he emphasised, must demonstrate impact rather than intention.

The minister also outlined plans to strengthen pre-mission engagements with technical teams to identify gaps early and improve project delivery.

Reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to agricultural transformation, Kyari said the sector must play a central role in food security, economic diversification and inclusive prosperity.