Written by ActionAid Nigeria, a social justice NGO dedicated to eradicating poverty, and a coalition of civil society organisations have criticised the proposed N1.45 trillion allocation to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria’s 2026 budget, raising concerns about how the funds will be managed and who will benefit.
The groups raising the objections include the Smallscale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) and the Community of Agriculture Non-State Actors (COANSA), among others, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The groups did not oppose investment in agriculture outright. Their concern is that without clear targeting, transparent implementation, and inclusion of smallholder and women farmers in decision-making, the allocation may not translate into real improvements on the ground.
Nigeria’s smallholder farmers, who produce the bulk of the country’s food, have historically received a small share of agricultural budgets compared to large-scale operators and infrastructure contractors.
The 2026 budget debate comes as the country faces warnings from the FAO that up to 35.7 million Nigerians could experience acute food insecurity by August 2026, making the effective use of agricultural spending more urgent than usual.
