The commissioning of a state-of-the-art seed processing plant by Premier Seed Nigeria Limited at the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in Gombe State signals a strategic shift toward agribusiness-led economic growth in Nigeria’s Northeast.
Rather than a mere infrastructure ribbon-cutting, Tuesday’s event marked Gombe’s bold move to become a key player in Nigeria’s seed value chain, attracting stakeholders from across the agricultural ecosystem, including development partners, regulators, and policy makers.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who co-commissioned the project with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described the development as “a turning point in agribusiness for Nigeria,” stressing that the new facility would help bridge the gap in access to quality seeds—one of the major constraints in the country’s food production efforts.
“The success of any agricultural policy starts with seeds. This factory will provide the right foundation for the nation’s food security strategy,” Obasanjo said.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya used the opportunity to outline the state’s broader agricultural industrialization strategy, highlighting how Gombe is positioning itself to become a regional hub for seed multiplication, agritech investment, and rural transformation.
“This project is not just about processing seeds. It’s about growing a new economy rooted in resilience, innovation, and partnership,” the governor said.
According to Yahaya, the seed plant aligns with the state’s 10-year development and transformation plan, which prioritizes agriculture, renewable energy, and enterprise development. He cited the state’s comparative advantage in land availability, proximity to power supply from the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant, and access to regional markets as key enablers.
Dr. Abiye Ode, Country Director of Propcom+, a UK-funded programme that co-financed the seed factory, described the initiative as a model for climate-smart agriculture in Nigeria.
“We’re seeing how partnerships between state governments and the private sector can unlock real impact. This facility will directly support over 50,000 smallholder farmers with improved seeds over the next three years,” Ode noted.
The plant features automated systems for cleaning, grading, and treating seed varieties resilient to pests, diseases, and erratic weather—key challenges faced by farmers across the Sahel region.
The Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Hon. Futuhu Mohammed, said the Council will ensure the facility maintains strict compliance with national seed certification standards.
“With the right oversight and continuous innovation, Nigeria can drastically reduce its reliance on imported seed varieties,” he stated.
Analysts say the project could spark a wave of seed investments across the Northeast, which remains underutilized despite vast arable land and growing demand for climate-resilient inputs.
Nasiru Mohammed Aliyu, Gombe State Commissioner for Trade, Investment, and Tourism, said the industrial park—where the plant is located—has reached 85 percent completion and already attracted over N22 billion in infrastructure investment.
“The Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park is the backbone of our agro-industrial vision. With this factory, we are positioning Gombe to feed not just Nigeria, but the wider Sahel region,” he said.
The Premier Seed factory is expected to create over 300 direct and indirect jobs in its first phase, with plans for future expansion to support seed exports and training of agro-preneurs.
