The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to adopting responsible and inclusive land-based investment principles in the agricultural Sector.
This is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to improve the ease of doing business, deliver on food security, and ensure social and environmental sustainability.
The National Programme Coordinator, State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme, Dr. Ali Mohammed reiterated this on Monday, 15th April 2024 in Abuja at the commencement of a workshop on the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA).
The programme is jointly organized for Sub-nationals by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
It was gathered that the SABER Programme is a 3-year (2023-2025) US$750m program for results that seeks to incentivize States to implement critical reforms aimed at improving: efficiency in land administration.
Others include the regulatory framework for private investment in fiber optic deployment; services provided by investment promotion agencies and public-private partnership units and the efficiency and transparency of government-to-business services in participating States.
It was stressed that disbursements will be on-lent to the States upon annual verification by an Independent Verification Agent (IVA) that a State has successfully implemented the associated reform. FRILIA is one of the many reforms advocated by the program.
Dr. Mohammed, however, lamented that although food production has been increasing steadily, attaining Food Security remains a major challenge noting that while the government has intervened in terms of making financing and inputs available, more systemic issues around land administration and compliance with best practice standards remain an issue.
“As we seek out increased investment in the Sector, we must ensure that impediments to doing business are removed and that investors adhere to principles and guidelines that safeguard the rights of host communities. They should also employ operating models that have the least impact on livelihood and the environment. We believe that the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) provides the roadmap for attaining these objectives”.
The National Programme Coordinator further disclosed that to provide the right enabling environment, the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) through the World Bank-assisted State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Program, has engaged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to assist in providing a suite of technical assistance services including Advisory, Guidelines, Peer Learning Sessions and Technical Workshops.
He highlighted that the financing from the program seeks to reward States with over US$4.5 million each for successfully setting up the requisite Governance Systems, Guidelines, and pilot investment(s) in line with Established Principles. “This reform will also strategically position your States for local and Foreign Investment, hence, creating more jobs and eventually, propel the much-desired Economic Growth”.
In his remarks earlier, the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Asishana Bayo Okauru Esq. disclosed that under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme, NGF is working collaboratively with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the World Bank to deliver advisory and capacity building support to States.
Mr. Okauru observed that Land-based investment in Nigeria has been marred by various challenges ranging from lack of clarity on governance mechanisms; weak administrative support systems for stakeholders; poor data; little or no recognition for inclusion, gender equality, and cultural values; poor engagement with host community; disproportionate compensation and resettlement for persons displaced.
“These have impacted negatively on the cost of doing business, agriculture value chain, livelihood, environment and ultimately, economic development”.
To address these challenges, the Director General emphasized that State Governments seeking out investment for intensive Land-based agriculture must think through strengthening their governance and administrative systems by ensuring that issues of inclusion, gender equality, fair compensation, and environmental as well as social sustainability are prioritized and that established guidelines thereof are adhered to by all stakeholders.
He recalled that in 2021, the NGF in collaboration with the World Bank convened the first Sub-national dialogue on the adoption of a Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA). This will facilitate experience sharing from front-runners such as Kaduna and Ogun States which have since then set up governance systems and guidelines for implementation.
Also in 2023, the Forum had similarly supported 7 States (Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Zamfara) with the development of an Executive Order mandating the adoption of FRILIA.
According to him, the model Executive Order being advocated by NGF sets out in part the governance and administrative mechanisms, and commitment to international and proven principles that guarantee recognition, respect, and protection of land and human rights.
“It also outlines commitment to ensuring inclusion and gender equality, environmental and social sustainability, food security, responsible natural resource management amongst others”.
Mr. Okauru also thanked the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance for their continued support and collaboration in advancing reforms for sub-national development.
*Ibrahim Mohammed, Communication Specialist, SABER Programme
