His Excellency Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Spain, paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain, Luis Planas Puchades, on Thursday, 17 September 2026, at the Palacio de Fomento in Madrid.
The Minister warmly received the Ambassador and congratulated him on his appointment as Nigeria’s principal envoy to Spain and on the successful presentation of his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Felipe VI. Minister Planas noted that the Ambassador’s assumption of duty would further strengthen the already cordial relations between Nigeria and Spain, particularly in the areas of agro-food production, animal health, and irrigation.
The Minister highlighted Spain’s advanced technology in crop disease prevention and the development of high-yielding improved seedlings, which have significantly boosted large-scale agro-food and livestock production. He observed that Nigeria’s substantial arable land—over 40 per cent of its total land area—presents immense opportunities for increased food production and value-chain development. Spain, he stated, currently produces more food than it imports, a success attributable to improved seedlings, effective food preservation policies, and consumption strategies. Innovative technologies, he added, contributed to a 20 per cent reduction in food loss in 2025, with further preventive measures currently being implemented.
In his response, Ambassador Ikpeazu expressed appreciation for the warm reception and the opportunity to engage the Minister on issues of mutual interest between Nigeria and Spain. He underscored that increased agricultural production remains a top priority of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, given Nigeria’s large youth population and the vast potential of the agricultural value chain. Full utilisation of this potential, he noted, would enhance food security, generate employment, and help address the challenge of irregular migration in Africa.
The Ambassador commended Spain’s innovations in improved seedling production, livestock development, and food preservation. He affirmed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with Spain to boost agricultural productivity and tackle food losses arising from inadequate preservation facilities and transportation networks. Ambassador Ikpeazu also drew attention to successful Spanish investments in Nigeria, notably GB Foods operating in Kebbi and Ogun States, where the introduction of improved seedlings has raised tomato yields from 10 tons to over 60 tons per hectare. He reiterated Nigeria’s strong interest in developing animal production for both domestic consumption and export, and expressed willingness to partner with Spain in this sector.
Both sides agreed that closer collaboration, technology transfer, and investment promotion would yield substantial mutual benefits. They committed to facilitating and considering proposals from relevant agencies and private-sector stakeholders as a means of further deepening and expanding the excellent relations existing between Nigeria and Spain.
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