Commissioners for Agriculture from Borno, Plateau, Taraba and Kaduna states have called for stronger agricultural insurance in the country to mitigate losses incurred by farmers due to climate change. This came as Leadway Assurance, in partnership with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and PULA Advisors, disbursed N396,697,672 in insurance pay-outs to smallholder farmers at the 2025 Wet Season Insurance Pay-out Ceremony held under the National Agribusiness Planning Mechanism (NAPM).
Pay-out Ceremony Highlights
The pay-out, which took place in Abuja, benefited farmers in Plateau, Borno, Kaduna, and Taraba States, reinforcing the critical role of agricultural insurance in safeguarding livelihoods, stabilising food production, and enabling farmers to recover from climate-related losses. The ceremony provided a platform to review outcomes from the recently concluded wet season, present verified yield data, and recognise beneficiary farmers. It also created an avenue for forward-looking discussions among key stakeholders, fostering stronger collaboration and strategic alignment ahead of the 2025/2026 dry season farming.
Kaduna Commissioner's Concerns
In his goodwill message, Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Mohammed Dabo, said one of the major challenges facing farmers in Nigeria presently is food importation by the government. He noted that many farmers have lost interest in returning to the farms because of losses incurred following mass food importation. Dabo commended Leadway and their partners for assisting farmers who experienced losses due to climate change impacts.
Leadway Assurance CEO's Remarks
The Chief Executive Officer of Leadway Assurance, Gboyega Lesi, stated, “This pay-out underscores our promise to stand by our farmers when it matters most. Agricultural insurance is a vital tool for building resilience within Nigeria’s food systems, and we are proud to support farmers in mitigating the impact of climate risks.” He said the pay-out reflects what is possible when public and private sector partners align around a shared vision for agricultural transformation. “By leveraging data-driven insurance solutions, we ensure that vulnerable farmers are not left behind amid climate uncertainties,” he added.
Leadway's Commitment to Food Security
Fatona Ayoola, Global Head of Agricultural Risks Solutions at Leadway Assurance, noted that the company views agricultural resilience as vital to Nigeria’s food security and its commitment to claims payment exemplifies this ethos. “We understand that empowering farmers to recover from losses, rebuild, reinvest, and sustain their operations fosters the trust and confidence needed to continue investing in food production that nourishes the nation and builds our food systems,” he said, commending the PFSCU’s NAPM template for outlining functional public-private partnerships.
Pula Advisors' Perspective
The Country Manager of Pula Advisors, Dr. Michael Enahoro, noted that the partnership with PFSCU and Leadway Assurance proves that indemnifying Nigerian agricultural production is workable and can be handled at scale to ensure food security. He commended state governments that keyed into the programme for protecting their farmers and building resilience against climate shocks and variability. He also thanked Bayer Foundation for supporting the NAPM risk management exercise and expressed confidence in their willingness to increase support in alignment with current season visions and objectives.
Previous Claims Payment
In 2024, Leadway and its partners paid N110 million in agricultural insurance claims to 1,138 Nigerian farmers who experienced total yield losses following the outbreak of ginger blight disease. This consistency in fulfilling obligations to policyholders has established Leadway Assurance and its partners as pivotal players in strengthening resilient agricultural systems and advancing food security in Nigeria.
