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August 03, 2023

UK supports food security in Nigeria

August 3, 2023 - The Foreign Secretary has pledged support to Nigeria's agriculture sector during a visit to the country.


The Foreign Secretary has announced a new package of support to make Nigeria's agriculture sector more climate resilient, as he arrived in the country
on Tuesday, continuing his 4-day African visit.

More than two-thirds of Nigeria's population depend on agriculture for employment. This new funding will help boost the Nigerian agricultural sector's productivity and resilience to the impacts of climate change, transforming Nigerian critical agriculture and food systems for the benefit of people, climate and nature.

UK support will help to develop heat and flood tolerant crops and increase soil fertility. New support will help grow the UK's economy by alleviating some of the agricultural trade barriers to UK imports.

It comes on the second leg of the Foreign Secretary's 3-country visit to Africa, where he is prioritising future-focussed, mutually-beneficial relationships.

Yesterday, In Lagos, he announced a £10 million UK-backed facility in Nigeria, in partnership with finance company InfraCredit that will unlock funding for sustainable and climate-friendly infrastructure development projects, such as providing renewable energy services to homes in urban areas, as well as green housing.

This includes improving the health of animals, making crops more resilient, and introducing cleaner cooking practices. This in turn will help increase productivity, capacity and resilience among small-scale farmers and rural communities across Nigeria while reducing carbon emissions and protecting natural ecosystems.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: "Nigeria has a booming population and the largest economy in Africa - there is huge potential for an even closer partnership between UK and Nigerian businesses which will be of mutual benefit to both countries.

"Together we are focussing on the future, putting in place green, clean measures, both in agriculture and infrastructure development, to create climate-resilient solutions for the global challenges we all face today and will increasingly face in the years to come."

On his first visit to Nigeria, the Foreign Secretary will also visit a UN Humanitarian Air Service centre in Nigeria's capital Abuja, where he will hear how over £38 million of UK funding has helped vulnerable communities in the North-East of Nigeria.

Over 4 million people are facing food insecurity, and 2 million children under 5 are acutely malnourished in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. This funding is helping to protect people, Build their resilience to the ongoing food shortage crisis, and prevent famine.

The Foreign Secretary will also meet Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Security Advisor Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to discuss the UK-Nigeria partnership and key common priorities, including how to increase bilateral trade and investment, economic development, regional issues, and strengthened security cooperation.

For more information, visit HERE.

 
The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

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