The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending says it is ending 2025 with more than N100bn in approved credit guarantees for agriculture loans and investments across the country, enabling banks to expand lending to agribusinesses that would otherwise be considered too risky.
The organisation disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, which read, “NIRSAL Plc is closing 2025 with total approved credit guarantees for over N100bn in loans and investments in agriculture and agribusinesses across Nigeria, enabling partner financial institutions to extend credit to value chain activities that would otherwise fall outside their risk appetites.
“This milestone, NIRSAL’s highest annual finance facilitated to date, demonstrates the institution’s continued success in de-risking agricultural value chains, improving access to finance for agribusinesses, strengthening lender confidence in Nigeria’s agriculture sector, and deepening financial inclusion.”
The company added that NIRSAL received the MSME Agrifinance Enabler of the Year Award at the second edition of the MSME Finance & CEO Awards in Lagos, in recognition of its role in structuring and de-risking agricultural transactions.
Speaking at the ceremony, NIRSAL’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Sa’ad Hamidu, said the accomplishment underscores “the power of structured risk-sharing models, strong partnerships with financial institutions, and the resilience of Nigeria’s agribusiness entrepreneurs.”
He added that the organisation “is not chasing after awards, but is focused on drawing the attention of potential partners across the agrifinance value chain to NIRSAL’s value proposition for safe, profitable, and sustainable investments in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.”
NIRSAL explained that its partnerships with commercial banks and other lenders supported key activities, including commodity exports, agro-processing, input supply, primary production, storage, warehousing, and logistics.
It stressed that its technical assistance, field monitoring, and project-mapping protocols continue to unlock lending opportunities across the agriculture-to-market chain.
On its de-risking role, the firm noted that while capital exists to transform agriculture, “the inherent risks in the value chains continue to discourage lending.”
It said the N100bn guarantee milestone reflects a shift “from hesitation to increased confidence,” driven by its risk-sharing guarantees and frameworks that reassure lenders.
The statement added that financial institutions were increasingly relying on its credit risk guarantees to scale agricultural portfolios, and that 41 master agreements had so far been signed with counterparties committed to financing agriculture and agribusiness in Nigeria.
NIRSAL also stated that, as a delivery partner to the Green Climate Fund for climate finance readiness, it was strengthening capacity nationwide and expected Nigeria to secure sizeable climate-finance inflows.
Looking ahead to 2026, the MD was quoted in the statement as saying, “Our journey is far from over. In fact, it is only just beginning. We will continue to innovate, deepen partnerships, and scale solutions that reduce risks and unlock finance for Nigeria’s agriculture sector. With the support of our Board of Directors and the dedication of our people, 2026 will see NIRSAL further scale its contribution towards agriculture transformation.”
The firm described itself as a non-bank financial institution owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria, leveraging risk-sharing, technical assistance, insurance, and innovative finance models to stimulate agricultural investment and productivity.
