Nigerian property firm introduces farm estate network across 12 states to tackle food crisis

In a country where food insecurity remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time, a Lagos-based property developer has taken a step that could change the way Nigerians think about land, investment, and the food on their tables.

Carina Global Realty has officially unveiled Agroville, a network of integrated farm and agro-processing estates planned across 12 states in Nigeria. The project is designed to build a closed-loop agricultural value chain, linking food production, processing, storage and distribution under one coordinated system.

The states covered include Ogun, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Abia, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kano, Oyo, Osun and Ebonyi.

Chibunna Ogbonna, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Carina Real Estate Developments Limited, has been direct about the vision behind the project. In his words, Agroville is “more than a real estate or agricultural project, it is a national development movement focused on building resilient food systems and empowering communities through enterprise, innovation, and strategic partnerships.”

Those words carry weight in a country where agriculture employs more than a third of the workforce yet continues to be held back by poor infrastructure, insecure land tenure, and limited access to processing facilities.

Agroville aims to address each of these gaps. Every estate within the network will be equipped with solar power, paved roads, water boreholes, drainage systems, perimeter fencing, security, fire safety provisions, and first aid stations. The intention is to create farming environments that work reliably and sustainably.

The project offers two entry points for investors: farmland and livestock farms. On the farmland side, Carina has selected four cash crops with proven demand and export value, which are maize, cassava, oil palm, and cocoa, beginning with its first southwest Nigeria location. The livestock programme launches with broiler chickens, with plans to introduce layer chickens, snails, and fish in later phases.

The company has been deliberate about setting accessible entry points. Farmland plots start from as low as N600,000, with full hectare investments available up to N50 million. Ogbonna explained: “The minimum investment amount for a maize farm of one hectare is less than N10 million for land acquisition, the setup cost is under seven hundred thousand Naira, and projected profits per hectare per harvest cycle of three to five months is conservatively under 3 million Naira for sweet corn and fresh maize.”

He added, “You can add cassava and other vegetables like pepper on the same farmland. The possibilities are endless.”

Land ownership in Nigeria has long been a source of anxiety for investors. The country’s land tenure system is layered and often unpredictable, with informal and formal markets operating side by side. Ogbonna says his company understands the terrain. “We leverage the expertise of our surveyors to identify locations formally zoned for agricultural purposes across the 12 states of interest. Then, we approach the informal land markets in these locations to acquire farmland that is free from government acquisition and encumbrance based on our due diligence process. After the acquisition, we approached the government to register and formalise it.”

He noted that the company plans to pursue direct government allocations as the project scales, adding: “Investors can be assured that Agroville properties are vetted and secured.”

Agroville is not being delivered alone. The project has drawn in a group of partners, each holding a defined role within the closed-loop system. Riwe handles insurance and digital monitoring of the farm estates. Brave Energies is responsible for solar power infrastructure across all locations. Agro-Cycle manages livestock farm setup and maintenance, while Skido Foods focuses on cash crop farm setup and agro-processing infrastructure.

Each partnership is governed by a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding. “Investors are provided with worst-case scenario-based project timelines to manage expectations and to ensure we deliver on our mission,” Ogbonna said. “We do not promise unrealistic profits just to close deals. Our offers are practical and reasonable.”

Nigeria imports billions of dollars worth of food each year, commodities that, in many cases, its own land is capable of producing. Agroville represents a direct response to that reality. Ogbonna closed with a call that is as much a challenge as it is an invitation: “Despite the current challenges we face as a nation, we believe that Nigeria’s food security is a critical development priority, and we invite investors who believe in our mission to join us now.”