Mirian Gom 
JIGAWA, Nigeria – Jigawa State has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with a consortium of local and international investors for the large-scale production of alfalfa, committing up to 100,000 hectares of land to what is projected to become one of Africa’s largest forage-crop initiatives.
The agreement was concluded on Wednesday during a visit by a high-level delegation led by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa. The team included the heads of NEXIM Bank, MOFI, Jaiz Bank, representatives of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and private-sector partners such as Capemano, Alami Capital, EL-Meena Farms and Matura Farm.
Governor Umar Namadi, through his spokesperson Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, said the deal reinforces the state’s long-term agricultural transformation strategy, stressing that agriculture remains “the lifeblood of the state,” supporting 90 per cent of Jigawa’s population and contributing more than half of its GDP.
Namadi highlighted Jigawa’s record in food production, including its top ranking in wheat and its cultivation of 315,000 hectares of rice in 2024, with a 2030 target of 500,000 hectares. He described the alfalfa programme as a transformational opportunity for livestock production, particularly as the state hosts Africa’s largest livestock market.
The governor also assured investors of full land availability for the phased 100,000-hectare rollout and reaffirmed Jigawa’s reputation as Nigeria’s most peaceful and investment-friendly state. All regulatory processes, he said, would be coordinated through InvestJigawa, the state’s one-stop investment agency.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Koko Maxwella 