Nigeria has unveiled the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST) a $3.5 billion, 10-year initiative designed to drastically reduce post-harvest losses, stabilize food prices, and boost national food security.
Announcing the programme at the Africa Food Systems Forum, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari (CON), described NiPHaST as a strategic and transformative effort to recover the estimated ₦3.5 trillion ($3.5 billion) worth of food lost annually to poor storage and inefficient handling systems
“This is not just about produce going to waste,” Kyari said.
“It represents lost opportunities, destroyed livelihoods, and stunted economic growth.”
He emphasized that the challenge of post-harvest losses extends beyond agriculture, calling it a “high-yield national business opportunity” capable of attracting large-scale investment and creating sustainable economic value.
NiPHaST aims to expand Nigeria’s storage capacity from about 5 per cent to at least 50 per cent of total agricultural output a move expected to align the country with global best practices.
The minister noted that achieving this could unlock as much as 1,900 per cent in built value, reflecting the immense potential within the country’s agricultural value chain.
The programme will be executed in phases, beginning with the empowerment of smallholder farmers to adopt affordable, climate-smart storage technologies such as airtight metal silos at household and community levels.
Subsequent phases will encourage private sector investments in cold chain and warehousing infrastructure, especially for high-value perishable commodities.
At the national level, the government plans to revitalize and concession its 33 strategic grain silos, which together offer over 1.3 million tonnes of storage capacity.
These facilities will be managed through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to ensure efficiency, sustainability, and professional oversight of the country’s food reserves.
Senator Kyari called on international financiers and development partners to support the initiative, stressing that transforming Nigeria’s post-harvest systems would “secure farmer livelihoods, restore investor confidence, and position Nigeria as a leading food hub in West Africa.”
