The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, established in 1966, has seen several name changes and modifications throughout different administrations. Nonetheless, it has never secured a dedicated headquarters since its transfer from Lagos to Abuja more than 30 years ago.
Presently, the ministry operates from a Federal Capital Territory Administration facility, which consists of merely three floors and lacks the necessary capacity to accommodate all its departments. As a result, around four departments are stationed in different locations outside of the ministry's main office.
In 2018, under the tenure of the late Chief Audu Ogbeh, the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the ministry purchased an N7 billion property in Abuja's Central Business District to function as its headquarters.
This building, a towering 8-floor office complex, occupies 3,754.90 m² of grounds located on Plot 1062 in the Central Business District.
The acquisition stirred controversy, as a query from then Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, directed at the permanent secretary overseeing the deal, Dr. Mohammed Bello, on May 11, 2020, demanded an explanation concerning the purchase of an “uncompleted carcass” building for the ministry at the cost of N7 billion.
The letter specified that the purchase occurred without conducting mandatory structural and mechanical integrity tests and lacked prior approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority's Public Building Department. It went on to state that the facility required billions of naira in additional investment to achieve safety and completion for occupation.
Dr. Bello responded by asserting that the interest in selling the property was submitted to the then-Minister Ogbeh and that his memo to the Federal Executive Council had received approval for the acquisition.
Since its purchase, the building has remained neglected, primarily serving as a parking lot for the ministry's vehicles.
Approval for a New 10-Storey Structure
In April 2023, the Federal Executive Council granted permission to construct a new headquarters building for the ministry at a different site. The then- minister in charge, Mohammad Abubakar, announced to the press that an initial amount of N6 billion had been approved to start the new headquarters project.
Abubakar detailed that the new facility would be a 10-storey building termed 'Agriculture House'. He mentioned that a plot measuring 1.84 hectares has been allocated to the ministry by the Federal Capital Territory Administration at a strategically located area for constructing the new headquarters.
He explained that the previous N7 billion building was deemed inadequate to house all the ministry's departments, prompting the decision to sell it and reinvest the generated funds into the new project alongside earlier budgetary allocations. Notably, a total of N6 billion has been designated from the 2022 and 2023 budgetary provisions for this fresh venture, with plans for over N5 billion outlined in the 2026 budget.
Within the 2026 budget, N5.67 billion is specifically allocated for the establishment of the ministry’s headquarters office complex, raising the total approved funds for the new headquarters to N11.67 billion. Eight years after attempts began to secure a completed headquarters, the ministry remains unable to finalize a suitable location.
Ministry's Planned Expenditures in 2026
Of the Federal Government’s N58.18 trillion budget for 2026, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, alongside its agencies, retains a total allocation of N1.44 trillion. An examination of the budget reveals significant commitments, including N126.02 billion earmarked for the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) project, initiated by the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and held under the auspices of the African Development Bank.
These funds are intended to enhance agricultural value chains within the country, promoting job creation and food security, rather than simply exporting raw materials which tend to provide farmers with minimal returns.
Additionally, a bilateral loan for the Value Chain Development Project (VCDP), supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will allocate N37.5 billion for the period. Other projects funded include the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) at N4.61 billion, grain supply to select states valued at N3.15 billion, construction of feeder roads in rural communities across all six geopolitical regions at N2.51 billion, and various equipment supplies, including tractors and trucks worth N1.47 billion.
Other initiatives include the establishment of the Nigerian Food System Dashboard at a cost of N1.750 billion, alongside provisions for enhancing the strategic food reserves aimed at market stabilization, which will take N1.862 billion.
Further Budget Concerns
The ministry has also proposed an allocation of N3.5 billion for the Renewed Hope Initiative, though details remain vague. Additionally, the budget includes endeavors to build internal roads within the Federal Polytechnic located in Nyak-Shendam, Plateau State, at a cost of N1.05 billion.
Moreover, while the budget reserves N1.050 billion for grain supply in selected areas of the southern geopolitical zone, this includes other budget lines for similar activities across the region, indicating a duplication of efforts. For example, N1.050 billion has been allocated for grain supply in various communities across the Niger Delta, as well as in rural locations throughout the six geopolitical zones. Additional financing is likewise earmarked for similar efforts in the South-West and South-East regions, every totaling N1.050 billion each.
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