The North-West Development Commission (NWDC) has announced that it is in the process of finalising a major agricultural partnership worth $200 million with international firms, Shanghai Integrated Infrastructure Development Limited (SIIDL) and Peerless Advisory Limited.
NWDC, in a statement posted on its X page on Friday, said the initiative aims to modernise and boost commercial farming across Nigeria’s North-West region.
The proposed agreement, which is currently in an exploratory phase, is designed to enhance the value chains of key crops like sesame, soybeans, rice, hibiscus, and wheat.
If the deal is finalised, it will introduce advanced mechanised farming equipment and implement training programs for farmers to increase productivity and strengthen food security.
According to NWDC, representatives from both SIIDL and Peerless Advisory have visited the Commission, signalling their strong interest and commitment to the project.
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The partnership will function as a public-private collaboration, with SIIDL acting as the primary investor, potentially providing up to 80% of the project’s funding through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
The NWDC will contribute its share by providing counterpart support, which includes land allocation and facilitating government approvals.
The NWDC’s leadership stated that this partnership is consistent with the commission’s long-term objective of unlocking the agricultural potential of the North-West region.
The commission’s mandate is to address developmental challenges, including poverty and infrastructural deficits, and leverage the region’s vast agricultural resources for sustainable growth.
The NWDC considers this agreement a significant step towards creating a lasting impact on local communities and the broader economy through transformative public-private partnerships.
