Nigerian Air Force Farms Partners Bank Of Agriculture To Advance Agricultural Productivity, Food Security and National Development
The recently established Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Farms and Agro-Allied Services has recorded another major milestone as the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) partnered with the organisation to expand access to concessional financing and boost agricultural productivity within the military farming ecosystem. The strategic collaboration underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment not only to self-reliance and food security, but also to advancing the Federal Government’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach towards addressing insecurity and promoting sustainable national development. By leveraging agriculture as a tool for economic empowerment, employment generation and social stability, the initiative reflects the NAF’s broader non-kinetic contributions towards tackling some of the root causes of insecurity across the country.
The partnership followed a high-level meeting between the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of BOA, Mr Ayo Sotinrin, and the leadership of NAF Farms led by the Managing Director, Air Vice Marshal Kotun. During the engagement, both organisations identified strategic areas of collaboration where BOA’s agricultural finance mandate would directly support the operational and developmental objectives of the NAF farming programmes. Key outcomes of the discussions include the provision of concessional financing for the procurement of quality agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, fertilisers, crop protection products and soil enhancement materials. The collaboration will also facilitate access to financing for modern agricultural mechanisation including tractors, harvesters, irrigation systems and processing equipment aimed at increasing productivity, enhancing food supply chains and modernising agricultural operations across NAF farms nationwide.
In furtherance of the initiative, both institutions agreed to establish flexible credit facilities aligned with agricultural production cycles to ensure repayments correspond with harvest periods. The partnership will also maximise the utilisation of available Nigerian Air Force land for agricultural purposes, leveraging the security advantage of military formations to encourage sustainable agricultural investments. Additionally, financial incentives for personnel participating in the programme are expected to be channelled through the NAF Microfinance Bank, with serving personnel, retired officers, women officers and spouses engaged in agricultural ventures standing to benefit significantly. The initiative further demonstrates the Nigerian Air Force’s evolving role in national development through strategic inter-agency collaboration, economic inclusion and community-focused initiatives designed to strengthen resilience, improve livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to long-term peace and stability in Nigeria.
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