The Community of Agrifood Systems Non-State Actors (COANSA) has raised concerns over poor implementation of agricultural capital budgets in Nigeria, revealing that most states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) spent less than half of their allocated funds between 2023 and 2025.
The organisation disclosed this on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, during a media briefing in Abuja to mark World Food Day 2026.
Dr Nkiruka Stella Okonkwo, who represented the COANSA chairperson, described the low spending levels as alarming despite an upward trend in capital budget allocations to the agricultural sector between 2023 and 2026.
She added that 15 states recorded capital budget expenditure below 50 per cent in 2026, warning that inadequate investment could undermine efforts to improve food production and strengthen Nigeria’s food security.
Okonkwo called for greater investment in agricultural research, agroecological practices and technologies that reduce post-harvest losses. She said these measures could improve productivity, nutrition and farmers’ access to markets.
She also urged the federal, state and local governments, alongside development partners and other stakeholders, to accelerate implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme under the Kampala Declaration.
The declaration provides a framework for strengthening agricultural investment, food systems and rural development across Africa.
Also speaking at the briefing, Ayo Omowu, head of Fiscal Governance, Tax Justice, Environment and Conservation of Nature at the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), called for the implementation of Nigeria’s Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan across the federal and state governments, including the FCT.
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The concerns highlight the gap between agricultural budget allocations and actual spending, raising questions about how effectively public funds are being used to support farmers and improve food availability.
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