During his visit to Nigeria, the British Foreign Minister promises to make the Nigerian agricultural sector more resilient to climate change; Funding will help over 4 million people adopt better farming practices and reduce harmful carbon emissions.
James Cleverly‘s trip to Nigeria will combine with a visit to three countries in Africa where he will highlight forward-looking and mutually beneficial partnerships.
The Foreign Minister will announce a new support package to make Nigeria’s agricultural sector more resilient to climate change, upon arriving in the country and continuing his four-day visit to Africa.
More than two thirds of the Nigerian population depend on agriculture for their employment. This new funding will help increase the productivity and resilience of Nigeria’s agricultural sector to the impacts of climate change and transform Nigeria’s crucial agri-food systems for the benefit of people, climate and nature.
UK support will help develop heat and flood resistant crops and increase soil fertility.The new support will help boost the UK economy by removing some agricultural trade barriers to UK imports.
This is the second stage of the Foreign Minister’s visit to Africa, to three countries where future and mutually beneficial relations are a priority.
A UK-backed £10 million facility, in partnership with financial firm InfraCredit, is announced in Lagos, Nigeria, to free up funds for green and sustainable infrastructure development projects, such as bringing renewable energy to urban homes green spaces as well as green buildings.
On Wednesday in Abuja will announce the £55m Propcom+ deal, the UK’s international climate finance scheme to support the transformation of Nigeria’s rural economy, and a £2.89m grant, benefiting over 4 million people in will help across Nigeria to adopt and expand sustainable agricultural practices.
These include improving animal health, increasing plant resilience and adopting cleaner cooking practices. This in turn will help increase the productivity, efficiency and resilience of smallholder farmers and rural communities in Nigeria while reducing carbon emissions and protecting natural ecosystems.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “Nigeria has a booming population and the largest economy in Africa – there is great potential for an even closer partnership between British and Nigerian companies in the mutual interests of both countries.
“Together we are focused on the future, implementing green and clean policies in both agriculture and infrastructure development to create climate-resilient solutions to the global challenges we are all facing today and increasingly facing in the years to come become.”
During his first visit to Nigeria, the Foreign Secretary will also visit the United Nations Air Force Humanitarian Center in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, where he will learn how British grants worth over £38 million have helped vulnerable communities in north-east Nigeria.
More than 4 million people are food insecure in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states and 2 million children under the age of 5 suffer from severe malnutrition. This funding is helping to protect people, build resilience to the current food crisis and prevent hunger.
The Foreign Secretary will also meet Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Security Advisor Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to discuss the UK-Nigeria partnership and key common priorities, including how to increase bilateral trade and investment, economic development, regional issues, and strengthened security cooperation.
