Agriculture, industrialization and economic development in Nigeria: Implication for sustainable development

This study examines the convoluted relationship between agriculture, industrialization, and overall economic progress in Nigeria, and its significant implications for achieving sustainable development. Conventionally, the Nigerian economy was fostered by bedrock of agricultural sector which was a mechanism for provision of food, employment, foreign exchange, and raw materials for emerging industries before to the oil surge era. The neglect of agriculture, which was the major source of employment to the teaming population for the country, has crumble industrial growth by reducing the flow of raw materials, depressing rural demand for manufactured goods, and limiting foreign exchange earnings needed for capital importations. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical research design. It leans primarily on secondary data within an interval of 1981 to 2024, sourced from the World Development Indicators (World Bank), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletins, and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports. Findings from the study shows an adverse correlation between the era of oil boom and the performance of both agriculture and manufacturing, an event which was characterized as the "Dutch Disease." The study recommends a wide-range of an overhaul reform in the agricultural sector, integrated policies that promote retrograde linkages from agriculture to industry, rural infrastructural investment, accessible credit facility for farmers and SMEs, and to embrace the green technologies which will ensure economic growth that is inclusive, resilient, and environmentally friendly and sustainability.