Outdated Data, Informality Hindering Nigeria’s Agricultural Growth, New Study Reveals

A new study by the Nigeria Agribusiness Data and Investment Hub (NADIH), an initiative of Lagos Business School in partnership with Augmentum Advisory, has revealed major gaps in Nigeria’s agricultural data ecosystem, warning that outdated information and widespread informality are undermining investment, policymaking and sectoral growth.

The findings were presented in Lagos during the launch of the Nigeria Agribusiness Data and Investment Forum, themed “Building Decision-Grade Agriculture Data Systems in Nigeria: From Fragmentation to Coordination.”

According to the report, government institutions currently control about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural datasets. However, much of the information available is either outdated, fragmented or insufficient to support the needs of farmers, investors and policymakers.

The research team identified inadequate funding and manpower as key obstacles to effective data collection, accounting for 56 per cent of the challenges faced by data providers.

Highlighting the need for collaboration, the researchers stressed that no single institution can sustainably drive agricultural data generation alone.

“No single source can anchor ongoing sustainability. As such, blended models are a necessary opportunity to coordinate across key ecosystem players for efficient resource allocation,” the team stated.

Speaking at the event, the Dean and Professor of Information Systems at Lagos Business School, Prof. Olayinka David-West, lamented the poor quality of agricultural data available for investment decisions.

She noted that investors often struggle to access reliable information on crop production, infrastructure and market opportunities.

“If somebody wants to invest in cassava and asks where to go and what infrastructure exists, we do not have those answers. Sometimes the data exists but it is already 10 years old,” she said.

However, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, argued that the sector’s biggest challenge is not necessarily the absence of data or funding but the high level of informality within Nigeria’s food system.

According to her, many traders and market operators deliberately provide inaccurate information due to fears of government interference, taxation or extortion.

“People will only provide accurate information when they see incentives and have confidence in the system. Without that, we are simply on a wild goose chase,” she said.

Olusanya further criticised the politicisation of agricultural interventions, alleging that some individuals presented as farmers are beneficiaries of political patronage rather than genuine practitioners.

“Many association leaders do not own farms, yet they head farmers’ groups because of the benefits attached to intervention programmes,” she added.

Also speaking, Director at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Adeniji Adedeji, disclosed that the ministry is implementing a National Livestock Growth and Acceleration Strategy aimed at increasing the livestock sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product to $74 billion within the next decade.

He revealed that the ministry recently established a National Livestock Information Management System to improve the collection, storage and analysis of livestock-related data.

Despite the initiative, Adedeji expressed concerns over the reliability of data obtained from state veterinary departments, noting that many disease surveillance officers have retired without replacement.

He further alleged that some state officials under-report data to protect their share of federal allocations, while certain development agencies collect data without sharing findings with relevant government authorities.

Meanwhile, the Statistician-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Baba Bukar, called for increased investment in state-level data systems and the adoption of technologies such as satellite imagery and mobile-based data collection tools.

According to him, data-driven interventions have enabled Kaduna State to identify food insecurity hotspots and allocate resources based on evidence rather than political considerations.

On his part, Director-General of the Nigerian Agribusiness Group, Mr. Jafar Umar, said Nigeria’s continued dependence on foreign-generated agricultural statistics has left investors without the reliable local data required for informed decision-making.

He disclosed that the group is partnering with state governments to develop market-level transaction data capable of strengthening agricultural planning and attracting investment across the country.

Stakeholders at the forum agreed that improving data quality, coordination and transparency will be critical to unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential and attracting the investments needed to transform the sector.