Grain de sel No. 51: Nigeria. A Look at the Agricultural Giant of West Africa

Breaking with its custom, Grain de sel is devoting this issue exclusively to one country, Nigeria. Why this country? Nigeria alone represents half of the population of West Africa and half of its economy. Despite its size and influence on all surrounding countries, most rural and agricultural development actors in French-speaking countries (and sometimes in English-speaking countries as well) both in the North and within Africa know little about Nigeria. This special issue contains reports on initiatives, analytical…

By its size and population Nigeria is almost a subcontinent in and of itself. The country continues to have one of the most dynamic economies in Africa, with GDP growth of around 6% in 2009. The effects of the international crisis have been felt, however, with a significant drop in oil prices, scarcer credit and a financial sector made fragile by toxic assets. These factors threaten the precarious macroeconomic equilibrium that had been attained between 2003 and 2007,…

Facts on Nigeria Agricultural Activity in Nigeria A Large and Divided Population. With a population of over 150 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. It is home to one-sixth of the continent’s population, and to half of the people in ECOWAS. It is also one of the most urbanised countries in Africa, with at least twenty-four cities of over 100,000 residents. Nigeria is highly diverse, with a large number of ethnic, cultural, linguistic and…

With its privileged position in the sub-region, Nigeria is poised to play a pivotal role in ECOWAS. But Nigeria’s elites and its public policies must show that they are up to this challenge. A Decisive Economic Influence in the Sub-Region. Both within and outside of the country, Nigeria’s vocation to dominate and structure the sub-regional environment is no longer contested, and Nigeria is expected to play a key role in African and international organizations. The time is long…

The ECOWAS countries are on the way to establishing a single currency by 2020. Nigeria is poised to play a major role in this process. While the plan apparently has unanimous support, “the devil is in the details.” Grain de sel: What is your analysis of the currencies now in use in West Africa? Gilles Dufrénot: The “currency map” of West Africa comprises several different exchange regimes. There is a monetary union, made up of the eight countries…

Nigeria is endowed with abundant natural resources and has substantial agricultural potential. While it ranks first among the leading agricultural producers in the region, it is also the largest importer of staple products in West Africa. Despite the preponderance of hydrocarbons, the agricultural sector continues to play a decisive role in Nigeria’s economic development. Agriculture accounts for about 36,5% of the creation of gross domestic product in the country and employs nearly 45% of the country’s workforce. With…

Nigeria is a major hub of animal product consumption in West Africa. It is also one of the largest livestock-raising countries in the region. Meeting the ever-increasing domestic demand and access to these flourishing markets are major economic stakes for Nigeria and for the neighbouring Sahel countries that raise livestock. By its population and capacity for animal production, with 25% of livestock herds in the sub-region, Nigeria is by far the leading livestock producer in Central and West…

While Nigeria has many singular features, the country is no exception when it comes to agricultural policy in the region, caught between enormous potential, immense ambitions, and still-insufficient concrete results. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with an urban population growing at an exponential rate. The government’s objective of achieving food self-sufficiency is a major challenge. In this country that is experiencing relatively rapid economic growth, this goal is not unrealistic but will require a great…

The rice value chain in Nigeria is in a period of growth, thanks in particular to strong support policies. Work remains to be done, however, to give growers access to improved seeds and improve quality, so that locally grown rice can fully meet the needs of urban consumers. Local rice cultivation provides livelihoods for many producers, processors and vendors in Nigeria. However, it does not satisfy the totality of consumer demand in the country. Nigeria imports on average…

Nigeria stands out in the sub-region for its traditionally protectionist trade policy. This tendency, which is partly in question today, has slowed down the process of West African regional integration. Nigeria’s trade policy is above all a tool to foster growth, and is framed to be consistent with the country’s overall development objectives. This policy is formulated and implemented via legislation and regulation, as well as by directives issued by the federal Ministry of Finance. Protectionism Is Losing…

Nigeria is a central actor in the trade of farm and livestock products between countries in the sub-region. This article presents and analyses intra-regional trade in West Africa. Trade between Nigeria and its neighbours in West Africa (Niger and Benin) and in Central Africa (Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea) is intense and long-standing. As a consequence of its economic importance (over 50% of GDP in ECOWAS), population (one out of every two West Africans is Nigerian), and contrasting levels…

Some land-locked Sahel countries in Africa are dependent on cross-border trade for their food security. What is the situation in Niger today? How do the cross-border flows of staple foodstuffs from Nigeria allow Niger to ensure its food security? This article describes the trade between these two countries. Without the farm and animal products that arrive from Nigeria, it is hard to imagine how food security could be assured for the people of Niger. Given that the country…

Agriculture in Nigeria as seen by a Nigerian specialist. In some respects, the circumstances in Nigeria resemble those of neighbouring countries. In this analysis, the emphasis is on pragmatic approaches and the spirit of enterprise, whether family-run businesses or larger-scale operations. Grain de Sel: What is your diagnosis of the agricultural sector in Nigeria? Ndidi Nwuneli: Agriculture is the most important sector in the Nigerian economy. It employs 60% of Nigerians, including many rural women, and contributes up…

There are a great many farmers’ organizations in Nigeria, but can we speak of a Nigerian “farmers’ movement”? Between the large umbrella organizations that are sometimes manipulated by the government authorities, and a multitude of local initiatives, Nigerian farmers are now beginning to look for a path to unity. Even if farmers’ organizations (FOs) in Nigeria are not yet well structured, several broad categories can be distinguished: FOs with a general scope and focus on advocacy; FOs set…

Nigeria is generally seen as a regional giant capable of stimulating the agricultural economies of neighbouring countries. Without appropriate public policies, however, regional integration has its limits. Here, we illustrate this with a case study of a little-known activity, the coconut value chain in Ghana. At scientific meeting in 1990, a researcher displayed a map of agricultural production in West Africa with a large blank space for Nigeria, indicating the absence of reliable data on this regional giant….

Grain de sel The subjects of upcoming special reports to be published by Grain de sel (GDS) in 2011 have been selected by the Board of Directors according to the suggestions made by the editorial committee. The topics covered will be: – grains (June); – land tenure (September). Readers are encouraged to make their own suggestions and propose articles on these topics (see the back cover for details on submitting articles). The results of the survey of GDS…

To facilitate access to subsidised fertiliser for smallholder farmers in Nigeria, IFDC developed a fertiliser voucher programme that relies on a public-private partnership. This initiative has met with resounding success, even if many limitations remain to be addressed. Haladu Afdu, chairman of the Jumar Kwari Kamfa Fadama Farmers Cooperative in Wudil (Kano state), has just paid for two 50-kg bags of subsidised mineral fertiliser upon presentation of a voucher coupon that was allotted to each member of his…