The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has expressed strong support for the ongoing amendment of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) Establishment Act, describing it as a forward-looking framework that will strengthen agricultural financing, rural connectivity, and market systems across Nigeria.
The statement was made during the One-Day Stakeholders and General Public Hearing on three critical bills under consideration by the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, held on Monday, October 13, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The bills under review included:
A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) Establishment Act, 2025 (HB 2036);
A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Farm Settlements Agency (HB 1347); and
A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Rice Production, Processing and Research Institute, Bungu (HB 423).
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Hon. Bello. A Ka’oje, noted that the engagement demonstrates the legislature’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s agricultural sector through effective legislation and collaboration with key stakeholders. He emphasized that agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and a key driver of inclusive growth and food security.
Presenting the overview of the NADF amendment bill, the house highlighted that the amendment seeks to enhance governance efficiency, align the Fund’s operations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and empower it to collaborate with major agricultural initiatives such as RAAMP and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) in financing rural access roads and market infrastructure.
The Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Sabi Abdullahi, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to effective agricultural financing and praised the legislature for its proactive steps toward improving the sector’s institutional and legal frameworks.
Speaking on behalf of the National Coordinator of RAAMP, Engr. Aminu Bodinga Mohammed, the Head of Agro-Logistics Unit, Engr. Salisu Abubakar, declared the Project’s support for the amendment, stating:
“Providing rural access is a critical infrastructure that requires substantial funding. Most of RAAMP’s interventions are currently supported by loans from AFD and the World Bank, with minimal federal counterpart funding. With the NADF now in place, we see an opportunity for sustainable financing to maintain and expand rural roads and improve agro-logistics centres—the economic hubs of our markets.
This amendment aligns with RAAMP’s mandate and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. By enhancing access from farm to market and reducing travel time and post-harvest losses, we can truly drive agricultural development across the country,” he stated.
The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) reiterated its readiness to collaborate with the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and development partners to ensure that agricultural financing mechanisms support rural infrastructure, logistics, and value chain efficiency.
“The amendment of the NADF Act is a milestone toward achieving sustainable and inclusive rural growth,” the statement concluded.
Source: DevCom unit