NIRSAL Guarantees Record ₦100 Billion in Agricultural Lending in 2025
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The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) approved over ₦100 billion ($69 million) in credit guarantees for agricultural loans and investments across Nigeria in 2025, its highest annual volume since establishment. The guarantees enabled partner banks and financial institutions to extend financing for farming, processing, storage, logistics, and exports that would otherwise fall outside their risk appetite.
NIRSAL Managing Director Sa'ad Hamidu announced the milestone after receiving the MSME Agrifinance Enabler of the Year award at the second MSME Finance & CEO Awards in Lagos. Hamidu stated the accomplishment reflects "the power of structured risk-sharing models, strong partnerships with financial institutions, and the resilience of Nigeria's agribusiness entrepreneurs."
The agency has signed 41 master agreements with commercial banks and investment firms to support agriculture and agribusiness financing nationwide. NIRSAL provides partial risk coverage tied to project performance rather than direct lending.
Agriculture accounted for 3.95% of total private-sector credit as of September 2025 per Central Bank of Nigeria data, while only 7% of farming communities reported obtaining loans.
