HISTORIC AGRIC ALLIANCE: Niger, Benin Sign Multi-Billion Dollar Pact to Produce 450,000 Tonnes of Cotton, Boost Food Security

In what has been described as a landmark breakthrough for West Africa’s agricultural sector, the Niger State Government has entered into a multi-billion dollar partnership with the Republic of Benin to revolutionize cotton and food production across the region.

The pact, signed in Cotonou through Niger State’s Special Purpose Vehicle, Sonama AG Mech Ltd., will drive the ambitious “Cotton Common Platform Project,” a programme designed to produce 450,000 tonnes of cotton in the fertile Borgu region while diversifying into other critical food crops.

Under the agreement, Niger State will provide vast tracts of land and resources, while Benin Republic will contribute advanced technical expertise to modernize cultivation, processing, and distribution. By 2030, the project will see 550,000 hectares of land cultivated through a rotation of cotton, maize, and soybeans.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago hailed the accord as “remarkable and unprecedented,” applauding Benin’s progress in agribusiness and commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for empowering Nigerian states to engage international partners directly.

> “This partnership is a game-changer. It positions Niger State and indeed Nigeria as a continental hub for cotton and food production while creating unprecedented opportunities for our people,” Bago declared.

The initiative is projected to yield $739 million annually, reduce Nigeria’s dependence on food imports, and create over one million jobs. It will also establish 55 technical centres across Niger State to train agronomists, mechanics, machine operators, and drivers, boosting agricultural mechanisation and irrigation systems.

According to Jean Yekpe, Director of Sonama AG Mech Ltd., the phased cultivation will begin with 20,000 hectares in year one, expand to 50,000 hectares in year two, and gradually reach 450,000 hectares by 2030.

Echoing the economic significance, Sammy Adigun, Chairman of Niger Foods, said:

> “We are leveraging Borgu’s vast arable land and water resources. This project is not just about cotton—it’s about food security, job creation, and sustainable wealth for our people.”

Governor Bago was received in Cotonou by Benin’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olushegun Bakari, and Agriculture Minister, Gaston Dossouhoui, underscoring the bilateral importance of the deal.

The development was contained in a statement issued by Adamu Mashegu, Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Office of the Secretary to the Niger State Government.