The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) says it facilitated more than ₦100 billion in agricultural financing in 2025, its highest annual performance to date, strengthening credit flow to agribusinesses nationwide and supporting over 159,000 jobs.
In a statement on Sunday, NIRSAL disclosed that between 2013 and 2025, it facilitated a cumulative ₦290 billion in financing across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, covering primary production, processing, logistics, market development, and exports. These interventions have helped create more than 520,000 jobs and positively impacted over three million people in rural and urban communities.
According to the institution, its interventions improved industrial capacity utilisation, enabled farmers to scale production, expanded market access, and preserved value across the agriculture ecosystem through credit risk-sharing, insurance advocacy, incentive mechanisms, and technical assistance.
Performance records show that NIRSAL facilitated ₦298.49 billion in credit via its Risk Sharing Facility, issuing 949 guarantees and supporting 251 agribusinesses, while maintaining a non-performing loan ratio of less than 0.8 per cent. Over the same period, more than 449,000 agricultural value chain actors were trained, about 159,000 jobs were supported, and roughly 795,000 lives were directly impacted through programme interventions.
NIRSAL also developed over 20 agribusiness models and tools, trained more than 2,000 financial institution staff and 303 value chain actors, and facilitated ₦33.9 billion through programme management initiatives.
Its insurance advocacy efforts led to the rollout of five index insurance products, the onboarding of nine insurance firms, the issuance of 1.8 million index insurance policies, and over ₦5.2 billion in payouts. Of this amount, ₦4.6 billion was paid in claims, while ₦4.2 billion was recovered. Through its incentive mechanism, the institution processed $1.8 million in interest drawback payments to 386 obligors.
NIRSAL said the ₦100 billion milestone recorded in 2025 reflects growing lender confidence in agricultural lending, as partner banks were able to extend credit to value chain activities previously considered too risky.
The institution noted that the achievement underscores steady progress in de-risking agricultural finance, improving access to credit for agribusinesses, strengthening lender confidence, and deepening financial inclusion across the agriculture-to-market ecosystem.
In recognition of these outcomes, NIRSAL received the MSME Agrifinance Enabler of the Year Award at the 2nd MSME Finance & CEO Awards held in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Sa’ad Hamidu, NIRSAL’s Managing Director and CEO, said the recognition reflects the impact of structured risk-sharing models, strong partnerships with financial institutions, and the resilience of Nigeria’s agribusiness entrepreneurs. He was represented by Akinola Baiyewu, Regional Head, South, Business Development Group.
Hamidu stressed that the organisation’s focus remains on attracting partners across the agrifinance value chain and promoting safe, profitable, and sustainable investment in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
He reiterated that NIRSAL is a finance facilitator, not a lending institution, noting that while capital exists within the financial system, value chain risks often deter banks from lending to agriculture.
“The ₦100 billion facilitated in 2025 signals a shift from caution to confidence among lenders,” he said, attributing the change to NIRSAL’s credit risk guarantees and risk management frameworks.
To date, NIRSAL has signed 41 master agreements with financial institutions willing to jointly finance agriculture and agribusiness across Nigeria.
The institution also highlighted its role in mobilising alternative finance, including its work as a Delivery Partner to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on climate finance readiness programmes aimed at attracting climate-smart agriculture funding.
Looking ahead to 2026, NIRSAL said it will continue to expand its finance facilitation footprint, support climate-resilient agriculture, deepen partnerships, and scale solutions that reduce risks and unlock sustainable financing for Nigeria’s agribusiness ecosystem.
“Our journey is far from over,” Hamidu said. “We will continue to innovate and scale our impact to support the transformation of Nigeria’s agriculture sector.”
