Nigeria to Begin 2025 Budget Implementation by September; Vice President Shettima Pushes ₦250bn Loan for Smallholder Farmers
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that implementation of the ₦54.99 trillion 2025 national budget, dubbed the “Budget of Restoration,” will commence by the end of September 2025. This comes as the 2024 fiscal year’s budget execution nears completion amid challenges that have slowed capital project rollouts.
Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Tanimu Yakubu, disclosed this development at the 3rd Quarter Ministerial Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement Forum held in Abuja on September 11, 2025. Yakubu emphasized that the 2025 budget is designed to stimulate economic growth, improve public service delivery, and attract investments to critical sectors including agriculture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
“The implementation of the 2025 budget will begin by the end of September. This budget aims to boost economic growth and public services. Effective execution and fiscal discipline will be vital to its success,” Yakubu said. He further highlighted initiatives to make budget documents more accessible to citizens by translating them into local languages and simplifying technical content to foster transparency and enhance public participation.
In a vital move aligned with the budget’s agricultural development objectives, Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has advocated for the disbursement of a ₦250 billion loan facility to support smallholder farmers nationwide. The loan is intended to provide affordable financing for seeds, fertilizers, farming equipment, and other inputs, empowering farmers to increase productivity and contribute significantly to food security.
Vice President Shettima noted, “Smallholder farmers are the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural economy. This loan will enable them to access the necessary resources to enhance their output, reduce food imports, and boost rural incomes.”
Experts underscore the significance of this intervention in a country where agriculture employs over 30% of the population yet faces chronic underinvestment. Professor Amina Yusuf, an agribusiness specialist at the University of Lagos, remarked, “Access to affordable finance has been a significant bottleneck for smallholder farmers. This loan can stimulate rural economic activities, support value chains, and reduce poverty if efficiently managed.”
However, challenges remain for Nigeria’s budget execution. Officials acknowledge delays due to procurement bottlenecks, technical issues with the cash-planning portal, and occasional policy inconsistencies, which have stalled some capital projects. Minister of Finance Wale Edun assured that measures are being taken to address these issues, stressing the importance of fiscal responsibility to achieve the budget’s objectives.
Citizens and development partners welcome the budget’s focus but call for transparent monitoring and stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure funds translate into tangible benefits on the ground. As Nigeria embarks on the 2025 fiscal year implementation, the success of the “Budget of Restoration” will largely depend on efficient execution and genuine stakeholder engagement.
Looking forward, the government plans periodic budget implementation reports and increased public sensitization to promote inclusive growth. The ₦250 billion smallholder farmers’ loan is expected to roll out imminently, marking a critical step towards revitalizing Nigeria’s agricultural sector and strengthening food security.
