Niger and Benin Republic have signed a multi-billion-dollar agricultural agreement aimed at transforming food production across West Africa.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who signed on behalf of Nigeria, said the initiative targets 450,000 tonnes of cotton by 2030 and will cover over half a million hectares of farmland.
Governor Bago thanked President Bola Tinubu for empowering sub-national governments to attract international investment, describing the partnership as remarkable and unprecedented.
The deal, signed in Cotonou, will see both governments collaborate on the large-scale cultivation of cotton, maize, and soybean under the Cotton Common Platform Project.
Benin Republic will provide technical expertise, while Niger State contributes land and labour.
The project is expected to create over one million jobs, promote mechanised farming, and generate about $739 million annually.
The MoU also provides for 55 technical centres to train agronomists, mechanics, and drivers, marking a new era of agricultural cooperation between the two neighbours.
News edited by Favour Owonibi