Nigeria has unveiled a $3 million sesame development project under a public-private partnership aimed at strengthening the country’s sesame value chain and increasing export earnings.
The initiative, known as AgroCity Doma, is a collaboration between the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA) and Amisec Industrial Company. The project seeks to establish a fully integrated sesame production and processing hub in Doma, Nasarawa State, one of the country’s leading sesame-producing regions.
Under the agreement, the LBRBDA will provide 1,000 hectares of irrigated farmland utilizing water from the Doma Dam, while Amisec will be responsible for financing, infrastructure development, and farm management. The project’s first phase is valued at about ₦5 billion (approximately USD 3.4 million).
According to officials, the project will begin cultivation activities in the next rainy season, alongside the construction of processing and export facilities. Full-scale operations are expected to commence by early 2027. Once operational, the AgroCity Doma project is projected to generate over USD 7 million in annual revenue and create more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs across the sesame value chain.
Nigeria, currently one of the world’s top sesame exporters, harvested about 508,920 tons of sesame in 2024, with Nasarawa contributing over 58,000 tons—about 11% of national output. That same year, the country exported 362,874 tons, earning approximately USD 425.6 million.
Officials say the new project is expected to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global sesame market by promoting organic production, improving value addition, and strengthening the export supply chain.
“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to transforming agriculture through innovation, private investment, and sustainable practices,” said an LBRBDA representative during the launch ceremony.
The AgroCity Doma initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to diversify exports, create employment opportunities, and build agro-industrial zones that can drive rural development and reduce post-harvest losses.
