Fesochukwu Jason
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has unveiled a sweeping cooperative reform programme aimed at restructuring and digitising the sector to drive agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and promote inclusive economic growth.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this on Thursday at the 8th National Council on Cooperative Affairs (NCCA) meeting held in Abuja.
He described cooperatives as critical to Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem, playing key roles in food production, aggregation, processing, and distribution, while also helping to reduce import dependence.
According to Abdullahi, the reform—tagged the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP)—is designed to modernise and commercialise the cooperative system, particularly within the agricultural value chain.
He explained that the initiative would strengthen cooperative governance, improve access to finance, and integrate farmers into structured agribusiness networks.
“The RH-CRRP framework places strong emphasis on enterprise development, including the creation of localised processing hubs, support for cooperative farming clusters, and access to shared farm equipment. These interventions are expected to reduce post-harvest losses, enhance value addition, and increase incomes for smallholder farmers,” he said.
The minister stressed that reforming the cooperative sector is urgent for Nigeria’s food security and economic development.
“Revamping and modernising the cooperative sector is not optional; it is urgent and non-negotiable if Nigeria must feed itself, empower its citizens, and expand prosperity,” he added.
As part of the reforms, the Federal Government plans to establish a Cooperative Bank of Nigeria to provide affordable credit to farmers, agro-processors, and rural enterprises that are often excluded from formal financing systems.
Abdullahi noted that the measures would improve productivity and traceability across agricultural value chains, while positioning cooperatives to scale operations and attract private investment.
He further revealed plans to deploy a nationwide Cooperative Smart Registry and introduce a Cooperative Verification Number (CVN) to enhance data management, transparency, and access to financial services.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, represented by Mr Ibrahim Tanimu, said cooperatives remain vital in empowering farmers, youth, women, and persons with special needs, while driving rural economic growth.
He added that the reform programme includes capacity building for cooperative leaders, harmonised accounting standards nationwide, and stronger regulatory frameworks to boost accountability and investor confidence.
In her goodwill message, the President of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Hannatu Mershak, described cooperatives as powerful tools for grassroots mobilisation, poverty reduction, and economic empowerment.
She noted that across Nigeria, cooperative societies continue to provide access to finance, improve agricultural productivity, create jobs, and strengthen community resilience, especially in rural and underserved areas where they serve as vital economic lifelines.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.