The Nigerian Government has called for stronger alignment between development partners’ interventions and national development priorities to ensure greater impact, sustainability and measurable outcomes.
The call came as the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) prepare to implement a new multi-bilateral agricultural project in Nigeria.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, made the call on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by KOICA officials to brief him on the KOICA-FAO 2026 Multi-Bilateral Project, which aims to promote resilient agricultural systems and create green jobs for young people in Nigeria and other participating African countries.
While appreciating the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and the Korean government through KOICA, Senator Bagudu stressed the importance of designing development programmes that are focused, measurable, and capable of delivering scalable results.
He noted that Nigeria’s relationship with Korea offers valuable lessons, given Korea’s remarkable transformation from an agricultural economy to a major global economic player.
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“Beyond the support we receive, there is much Nigeria can learn from Korea’s experience, particularly in agriculture, food production, value addition, and export development”, the Minister said.
Bagudu, who explained that the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is responsible for coordinating national development planning and partnerships, emphasised that “development partners’ interventions must align with Nigeria’s development framework, including the country’s long-term vision under Agenda 2050.
“Nigeria’s federal structure, with responsibilities shared among federal, state, and local governments, makes coordination essential to achieving sustainable development outcomes.”
He encouraged KOICA and FAO to adopt a more targeted approach, focusing interventions on specific communities where results can be measured and replicated.
According to him, spreading projects too widely without sufficient depth may limit their effectiveness, whereas focused interventions can produce successful models that attract further investment and expansion.
“We need programmes that can produce concepts that work, can be scaled, and can attract the private sector”, he said.
Bagudu emphasised the importance of aligning agricultural interventions with the economic realities and priorities of beneficiary communities.
He cited Nasarawa State as an example, noting that women rice farmers and processors who have struggled to compete with large-scale milling operations could benefit from improved technology, skills development, and stronger market access.
The Minister also highlighted opportunities in Bayelsa State, particularly in aquaculture, where targeted support could unlock significant economic potential and promote sustainable production, adding that empowering farmers requires more than production support, saying they must also be equipped with knowledge of market demands, value addition, and globally competitive agricultural practices.
