Gov. yet to appoint new SSG, says SSA Public Affairs
Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday departed for Beijing, China on a week-long working visit to woo investors in the area of agriculture.
A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, said the governor’s trip to China was on the invitation of LOVOL Heavy Industries Company Ltd., a leading tractor and farm equipment producer.
While in China, Governor Sule will also interact with another Chinese company that is constructing a factory in Gudi that will convert cassava to starch and other allied products.
In another news, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, weekend, stated that the Nasarawa State governor has not appointed a new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The SSA was reacting during a press conference at the NUJ Press Center in Lafia to speculations across the state that a certain individual had been appointed as new SSG by the Governor, expressing dissatisfaction that the speculation was coming mostly from some officials of the government.
He said the Governor was consulting with relevant stakeholders and would communicate through the right channel once a new SSG was appointed.
He explained further that the state government has concluded plans to conduct screening of staff at the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to ascertain the actual number of workers.
He noted that the state Economy Council had constituted a five-member committee to carry out the exercise for proper developmental planning, adding that the state had fully complied with the autonomy of LGAs and had given the local authorities free hands to operate.
He explained, however, that the LGAs are collaborating with the state government to ensure the smooth running of activities, better welfare for the workers, and good governance at the grassroots.
“It is given the above that the state had recently constituted the State Economic Council, chaired by Emmanuel Akabe, Deputy Gov of the state.”
On the recent attack by gunmen in Tatara community of Karu LGA, he said that the governor had gotten the necessary approval and had released N200 million for the establishment of the military camp to protect the people in the area and its environs.”
To boost food security, the Federal Government is set to recapitalise the Bank of Agriculture before March.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the bank, which has branches in 109 senatorial districts, will be positioned to provide smallholder farmers with capital.
Speaking during a briefing at the State House, Abuja yesterday, he said reliance on government budgets alone is insufficient to support agriculture.
Kyari said: “Within the first quarter of this year, you will see a report that will outline the reorganisation and the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture.
“BoA has branches in all the 109 senatorial districts and can reach out easily to those farmers.
“Smallholder farmer lacks capital. So we have written to some banks.
“We are also reorganising BoA to support what the government is doing in the sense of public financing in the budgets and what have you.
He reminded them that their leadership at the subnational level is central to achieving rapid national growth.
He expressed gratitude for their collaboration while highlighting key areas requiring joint effort.
The President spoke when Vice President Kashim Shettima and members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) paid him a New Year homage at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence.
“You are the most important link to Nigeria’s prosperity and development.
“The Federal Government accounts for about 30 to 35 per cent of the allocated revenue; the rest comes to you.
“The agricultural value chain depends on you.
“You own the land, and the job is in your hands,” President Tinubu said.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu stressed the importance of unity and shared responsibility in driving grassroots development.
He assured the governors there was no intention to undermine their control over local governments.
He urged them to focus on delivering transformative governance at the grassroots, noting that effective local governance was crucial to restoring hope and improving lives.
Quashing rumours of a rift over local government autonomy, President Tinubu reiterated his commitment to fostering a partnership that prioritises the welfare of the people and strengthens democratic institutions.
He said: “We will not fight within us. I will drive the change.
“You control your local governments. You can restore hope by effectively fulfilling what the people expect at the grassroots level.
“There were gossips that we had disagreements on local government autonomy. No. Just drive development at the local government.
“Nobody wants to take them away from you, but we need collaboration. Let’s do it together and ensure Nigeria is better off for it.”
Calling for stronger collaboration, the President added: “We have to work harder, grow more, and ensure the situation of our currency improves.
“Nigeria will see prosperity, but it requires consistent effort from all of us.”
He also urged the governors to take pride in their efforts.
“There is no state we visit and not be proud of its development. We have better allocations now.
“Let me take the abuse; you take the privileges. Together, we will build a nation we are all proud of,” he said.
Reflecting on his leadership journey in the last 19 months, the President expressed confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to thrive.
“I am glad I asked for this job, and Nigerians gave me the mandate. We’ll be on this voyage together.
“I thank all of you for where we are today and where we are heading,” he said.
The President announced that he will visit Enugu on January 4.
President Tinubu welcomed his declaration by ThisDay as Man of the Year.
According to him, “what they considered a failure initially is now a success.”
NGF chairman/Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak described ThisDay’s decision as a significant endorsement of the administration’s policies.
He noted that the acknowledgement from a newspaper known for critical media coverage reflects the tangible progress made.
“The policies are working. In agriculture, I was in Jigawa. The complaint in Jigawa was that there was a bumper harvest, but because of the strength of our currency, traders exported the harvest.
“So, most of us are encouraging ourselves to buy bumper stocks into our silos, store them for the rainy day.
“So, in terms of agriculture, the policy is working. We’ll continue to deepen that and ensure we are 100 per cent sustained in food security and feed the whole of West Africa,” he said.
The governor urged the President to visit states to see the ongoing transformations firsthand.
He assured the President of the steadfast support of the governors, particularly in contributing to local security architecture to further enhance the nation’s security.
“I must confess that I have not done two years in this administration, but I’ve done more projects in two years than in the four years of my first term”, AbdulRazaq said.
“We are getting more funding due to the restructuring of the economy. Yes, there is inflation, but we are overriding it.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasised the state helmsmen’s resolve to support the President’s leadership and vision.
He said they appreciate President Tinubu’s strong leadership and determination to transform the country.
Shettima: benefits of policies coming
Vice President Kashim Shettima assured Nigerians that the positive impact of the Tinubu Administration’s policies will begin to manifest in the coming weeks and months.
Speaking during the visit, Shettima expressed optimism about the nation’s economic trajectory and a brighter future for its citizens.
He noted that the economy is already showing signs of recovery.
He expressed confidence that 2025 will herald significant economic activity and improvement in the lives of citizens.
Shettima said: “The economy has started picking up, and in the coming weeks and months, Nigerians will start smiling for the better.
“We are working assiduously with the National Assembly to come up with robust solutions to our national challenges.
“No nation is immune to the economic headwinds across the world.
“The crisis in Ukraine and so many other global trends are affecting us adversely because we are part of the global community.
“But I want to assure Nigerians that the economy is turning the corner, by the grace of God, we have crossed the Rubicon and we are on a path to sustained growth.
…urges Nigerians to look to Jesus for hope and a better Nigeria
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to prioritise food security.
CAN, in his Christmas message, highlighted that the desperation witnessed in some parts of the country, where stampedes resulted in tragic losses of life, reflects the harsh realities many Nigerians face daily.
A statement issued by the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stated: “On behalf of the National Leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), I extend warm Christmas greetings to all Nigerians.
“Christmas is a time of joy and togetherness, celebrating God’s greatest gift to mankind, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and the Light of the World. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we are called to reflect on His values and teachings, which provide hope, peace, and guidance, especially during challenging times.
“This Christmas comes with a mix of joy and sorrow for many Nigerians. The recent stampedes at charity events in Abuja and Anambra, where innocent lives were lost, have left us grieving as a nation. These heartbreaking incidents highlight the growing desperation among our people and the erosion of societal values such as patience, orderliness, and respect for one another. For those grieving or injured, I urge you to find strength in the love of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate. He is the source of our comfort and peace in times of sorrow and our guide to a brighter future.
“The philanthropists involved in these events have, for many years, brought relief and joy to the less privileged during Christmas. Their intentions are noble, their generosity commendable, and they should not be discouraged in any way.
“However, this year’s tragedies remind us that, as a society, we must revisit the values that bind us together. Nigerians must learn to embody Christlike virtues such as patience, empathy, discipline, and dignity, particularly in times of collective need. It is only by returning to these values that we can prevent such unfortunate occurrences in the future.
“These incidents also highlight the urgent need for our government to prioritise food security.
“Jesus Christ, during His ministry, not only fed multitudes with compassion but also called for fairness and justice in meeting the needs of others. Our leaders must remain resolute in the fight against hunger and take decisive steps to ensure that no Nigerian is left hungry or in need.
“Strengthening the agricultural sector, reducing food prices, and addressing inequality must be at the forefront of governance.
“As we commemorate the birth of Christ, let this Christmas inspire us to be agents of change in our society. Citizens must commit to fostering peace and orderliness in their communities.”
Okoh said leaders must act with compassion and wisdom to create a nation where every individual’s basic needs are met.
He stated: “And as individuals, let us strive to live out the teachings of Jesus by showing love, patience, and care to those around us.
“May this Christmas remind us that Jesus Christ is the foundation of hope and order, and may His light guide us in building a united and prosperous Nigeria. Together, as we look to Him, we can overcome our challenges and usher in a brighter future for all.
“May the joy, peace, and hope of Christmas fill your hearts and homes. Merry Christmas!
The federal government has endorsed the Cold Storage Initiative, a programme designed to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance food security nationwide.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, expressed this support during a meeting with representatives of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), GENESIS Energy Group, USAID, and KPMG in Abuja.
The delegation presented a strategic plan for deploying solar-powered cold room storages and logistics systems across the country.
Highlighting the initiative’s potential, the delegation outlined their collaboration with stakeholders to establish cold storage facilities at strategic locations.
These facilities aim to minimize farm produce losses and streamline supply chains, addressing one of the most significant challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Mr Edun commended the effort, stressing that food security is a central focus of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He noted that recent economic reforms, including the implementation of market-based pricing for fuel and foreign exchange policies, have stabilised the economy and created a favorable environment for investment.
“This project aligns perfectly with the government’s agenda to create jobs, attract foreign investments, and alleviate poverty,” Edun said, assuring the delegation of the Ministry’s full support.
He stated that initiatives like this are crucial for fostering a sustainable agricultural sector and ensuring that fresh produce reaches consumers efficiently.
Key stakeholders at the meeting included Akinwole Omoboriowo, CEO of GENESIS Energy; Mohammed Ibrahim, NADF Executive Secretary; and Dimeji Salaudeen from KPMG.
A statement from the ministry of finance noted: “With federal backing, the Cold Storage Initiative is poised to transform Nigeria’s food storage infrastructure, reducing waste and enhancing food security. This development marks a significant step toward ensuring a hunger-free future for Nigeria.”
Dr. Saifullahi Umar, Technical Adviser to Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State on Agriculture, has highlighted the state’s significant investments in agriculture aimed at ensuring food security, fostering economic growth, and driving rural development.
Umar made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday night at the 14th Anniversary and Award Ceremonies of Nigerian NewsDirect in Lagos.
Representing Jigawa State, Umar was among the top government officials delegated to receive the Governor of the Year Award in Agro-Investments and Security on behalf of Governor Namadi.
He noted that the award, conferred by Nigerian NewsDirect, validates Namadi’s exemplary leadership and groundbreaking initiatives in revolutionizing the state’s agricultural sector.
“The efforts of his administration in these sectors and more, resulted to significant advancements in food security, economic growth and rural development.
“In one year in office, Namadi revitalized agriculture in Jigawa State and Nigeria at large, which resulted in increased access to inputs, thus provided farmers with 240,000 bags (12,000 metric tons) of fertilizer at a 40 per cent subsidy, that made critical inputs more affordable.
“To improve modern farming, Namadi introduced 360 tractors, 70 combined harvesters, 150 planters, and assorted implements to promote large-scale mechanized agriculture,” Umar said.
According to him, in an effort to expand mechanisation services, the government established the Jigawa State Farm Mechanisation Service Company and 60 Farm Service Centers, to provide accessible and affordable mechanization services.
The adviser said that the governor had made a huge investment in enhanced human capital with training of 30 young people in the International Master Tractor Technician Programme and developed a skilled workforce for modern agriculture.
“In an aim to boost wheat production in Jigawa, Namadi supported the cultivation of 55,000 hectares of wheat through the provision of improved seeds, fertilizers and agrochemicals, increasing local production.
“To further strengthen Extension Services in Jigawa, 1,435 Extension Agents were recruited and another 300 Community Animal Health Extension workers, to provide farmers with vital knowledge and support.
“The administration promoted Sustainable Agriculture by constructing five solar-powered vegetable centers, to demonstrate and disseminate innovative and environmentally friendly farming techniques.
“Namadi’s provided support to 8,813 workers through the Jigawa Workers Agricultural Support Scheme, while 41,290 vulnerable women and youths were supported to promote inclusion,” he said.
He said in order to promote economic growth, the administration created 1,100 millionaires, under the Rice Millionaire Project, which showcased the potential of agriculture for income generation and poverty reduction.
He added: “In maintaining Livestock Health, the administration saw to the vaccinating of 565,000 tropical livestock, to prevent disease outbreaks and enhance productivity.
“In one year of inception, artisanal bodies were restocked with 90,000 fingerlings to boost fish stocks and improve livelihoods for fishing communities.
“Namadi administration also invested in Women Economic Empowerment thus provided microcredit to 1,720 women through “the Goat Microcredit Scheme,” thus enabling them to establish and expand their own businesses.”
He added that another achievement of the Namadi’s administration was the Enhanced Water Resource Management, where 10 dams were Redesigned to improve irrigation infrastructure and ensure water availability for agriculture, increasing resilience to climate change.
According to him, since peace and security remain a priority, the governor is enforcing security measures to create a safe and conducive environment for agricultural activities and promoted peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
He noted that through the remodeling of the Jigawa State Agricultural Institute, the governor has been supporting agricultural innovation, research and development in agriculture.
He added that Namadi propagated 250,000 date palm seedlings to establish a large-scale Date Palm Plantation to diversifying agricultural production and create new economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, Namadi, who was represented by Malam Bala Ibrahim, the Secretary to the State Government to receive the award, said he was pleased with the recognition and happy his contributions to the development of his state and the people were being acknowledged.
The governor, who dispatched top government functionaries ,including two commissioners and three technical advisers to receive the award, said that he was highly elated with the recognition of his investments in agriculture, security, education and health for the benefit of the people.
Namadi said that the award would serve as an inspiration to do more and work for the betterment of the people.
Schneider Electric has reaffirmed its dedication to driving impactful changes in Nigeria that promote food security and climate action.
Country President, Schneider Electric Nigeria, Ajibola Akindele, highlighted the company’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s critical challenges during Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Conference held between November 18 and 20, 2024.
“At Schneider Electric, we recognize the interconnectedness of climate action and food security. Through our innovative energy and automation solutions, we are helping to build resilient systems that drive food production, conserve resources, and mitigate the effects of climate change,” he said.
By addressing Nigeria’s food security challenges and promoting climate action, Schneider Electric continues to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2—Zero Hunger and SDG 13—Climate Action.
Marketing Communications Manager, Anglophone Africa, Schneider Electric, Omobolanle Omotayo, highlighted the critical role of skill development in sustaining their sustainability initiatives. “We have created training programs through collaborations with NGOs, academic institutions, and other stakeholders, dedicated to equipping engineers and technicians with skills in sustainable practices.
This program contributes to building a skilled workforce that can develop and maintain energy-efficient systems, particularly in underserved communities,” Omotayo said.
The annual NSE conference, which brings together engineers, policymakers, academics, and industry leaders, provided a platform to share knowledge, enhance professional development, discuss policy, and showcase innovations. This year’s theme, “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change,” aligned with Schneider Electric’s mission to advance sustainable development through technology and innovation.
At the conference, the global leader in energy management and industrial automation showcased solutions designed to address pressing issues in Nigeria’s agricultural and industrial sectors. Key innovations presented included Altivar Solar Drives, Villaya Agri, and Villaya Micro-grid: Energy-efficient technologies to power irrigation systems, automation tools that optimize food production processes, reduce waste, and improve operational efficiency. Also featured were renewable energy and smart grid solutions to support rural electrification, providing sustainable and reliable power to farmers and agro-industries.
The company’s ongoing projects, such as solar-powered mini-grids and energy-efficient food processing solutions, are already driving tangible impact. These initiatives directly benefit farmers and small-scale enterprises, supporting Nigeria’s food security goals while advancing the fight against climate change.
Schneider Electric drives digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, endpoint to cloud connecting products, controls, software, and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centres, infrastructure, and industries.
With the current hunger in Nigeria, I wish to propose something unconventional, but drastic that may help improve Nigeria’s economy through agriculture. The federal government should appoint 43 ministers of agriculture.
Each of the six geopolitical zones should have coordinating Minister of Agriculture. The 36 states and FCT should have Minister of State for Agriculture. All the 43 ministers of agriculture must be lecturers from the Faculty of Agriculture; a senior lecturer and above. The Minister of State for Agriculture must be from the state he is assigned to. And the coordinating agriculture minister of each geo-political zone must be from that zone.
Each Minister of State is to identify the crops the state have comparative advantage and ensure such crop is produced in large quantities.
Since the land belongs to the governor, each Minister of State in collaboration with the governors and commissioner of agriculture of that state must find a way to make idle land available to farmers. Each Minister of State is to device a means that work for that state to achieve it.
We must learn to promote reward based on productivity to reduce corruption in Nigeria instead of being just hypocrite. To achieve this, five percent of every incremental production of all the farmers that have benefitted from the program of the government should belong to the ministers and all the civil servants, agencies, government officials, and other public officials that were involved in the program. Incremental production in this case means if a farmer was producing 100kg of crop before the new system, if the production increase to 150kg, the five percent of 50kg which is 2.5kg should be given to the ministers of agriculture, commissioner of agriculture and other public official involved in the process.
Stealing of input (capital for farmers, fertilizers, seedlings, land etc. must be treated as terrorism or treason as reward has already been made available from the output.
All the ministers will be rated yearly. Anyone that cannot significantly increase the output from its state in one year will be replaced.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy will be the supervisor of all the Minister(s) of Agriculture from each of the geopolitical zone. They will provide him/her progress report every two months. And the consolidated report will be presented to the president every quarter. The Minister(s) of State for Agriculture don’t need to attend every Federal Executive Council, (FEC) meeting in Abuja. Only those specially invited for specific reason are expected in Abuja. The six ministers of agriculture in each geopolitical zone are the only automatic members of FEC.
Some people may shout this will cause a major increase in the cost of governance. If we try it for two years and it does not produce output that far exceeds the increased cost of governance, we can scrap it.
We need to understand that, to make drastic progress in Nigeria, we need drastic and unconventional ideas. Today we rely so much on declining crude oil. Comparing us to other parts of the world, the only area we can harness very fast is agriculture. Let the whole country go into farming. Let get the people engage in productivity.
We must ensure we don’t use the improved productivity to reduce the price of food items in the market. The price of food doesn’t need to decrease. We need to maintain a good profit margin for farmers to ensure a lot of people go into farming. The increase in activities and employment from the farming will naturally increase the purchasing power of Nigerians and will make it easy for people to buy the food at high price. To achieve this, government must be willing to buy excess output to maintain high price. Government should also ensure enough storage facilities and processing facilities are built to ensure wastage is reduced.
The minister of state should try to influence the state governors to prioritise grading and maintaining farm roads over beautifying the state capital and other nice things which do not lead to increased productivity.
Some people may say this is duplication of the work of the commissioner of agriculture in a state and Permanent Secretary/representative in the federal and state Ministry of Agriculture in a state. For academic argument or in ideal situation, it may look that way. In reality and practicality, considering where we are as a nation, it is not. Nigerians don’t blame governors for poor economy. Governors are generally insulated or immune. Almost all Nigerians put the blame of poor economy on the federal government hence governors have no motivation to push economic agenda. Governors will rather focus on doing city roads and beautifying the state capital where most of the vocal educated class live. This helps them to be popular and win election.
The push for economic revolution must come from the federal government for now. Also commissioners of agriculture are just there in name only. Many of them are not empowered by the governors to drive policy. They are just occupying space. Having someone with some federal power pushing the governor on behalf of the president will go a long way. The likely conflict that may arise will help make agriculture a major discussion and create awareness and seriousness. The psychology of having 43 ministers focussing in agriculture will send a clear message of seriousness and urgency.
It is time Nigeria stopped thinking only the North can produce food. It is time the whole country starts working hard to create food security, opportunity and economic growth through agriculture. Netherland that is not up to the size of Southwest both in landmass and population makes more than three times through agricultural export what Nigeria makes from oil. Agriculture can replace oil. The money may come through effort and sweat unlike oil that is almost free money. But the gain will help push the country in the right path for future generations.
Also, the states should apply similar approach and have Commissioner for Agriculture in every Local Government Area.
•Gabriel, PhD writes from Lagos via Ibhagab@gmail.com.
Stakeholders have recommended smart and digital agriculture solutions to assure food scarcity in the country.
They added that Nigeria needed more smart farmers to guarantee food sufficiency in the country.
The experts spoke at a two-day agricultural summit for farmers and cooperative societies, held at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
Entitled: “Digisol Project” and aimed at providing digital solutions for sustainable agriculture and adaptation to climate change, it was sponsored by the European Union (EU) among other partners.
EU Project Coordinator, Prof Chris Emenyonu said climate change has come to stay as the effects are clearly seen.
He said: “So, we have to find a way to mitigate these challenges depending on the nature of our enterprise as farmers.
“Those farmers trained will have the capacity to train others. This will resolve the issue of huge post-harvest and yearly flooding losses to increase food security in the country.
“If informed that the intensity of rainfall or sunlight will be too high, the advice is don’t plant, be smart otherwise the farm may be raided by floods and diseases.”
Executive Director, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, Prof Lateef Sanni, said food importation, Boko Haram crisis and wastages contribute to Nigeria’s food crisis.
He said mechanised farming is essential to addressing these challenges, especially given the country’s rapidly growing population.
The Kwara State Project Manager, Mr Tajuedeen Ajala, harped on the training for rural farmers on sustainable, smart and digital agriculture that involves drones to guarantee food sufficiency.
He said rural farmers have no business waiting for the rainy season to farm.
He urged them to take advantage of the off season and venture into poultry among other skilled entrepreneurs to provide alternative livelihoods.
“This initiative will expose the rural farmers to new innovations in agriculture that will increase productivity and assist in farm management in a manner that will make it very easy for them to manage diseases, expose and sell their produce to a global audience,” he said.
Ajala said the project is being pilot-tested in Al-Hikmah and two other universities in the country
“The University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Owerri and FUNAAB in Abeokuta are the two others. In each of these States, three local governments have been taken as pilot local phases with Asa, Moro and Ifelodun in Kwara involving over 40 farmers,” he said.
The Federal Government has said that its ongoing review of the national agricultural mechanisation policy is aimed at ensuring food security, improving livelihoods, boosting exports, and reducing import dependence.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Temitope Fashedemi, stated this in Abuja yesterday at a stakeholders workshop on Draft Review of National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy.
He highlighted the role of mechanisation in enhancing productivity through sustainable and cost-effective strategies.
Fashedemi, who was represented by the Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, Mr. Ibrahim Tanimu, noted that previous administrations had focused on selective mechanisation, importing tractors and farm machinery with minimal oversight on standards.
The permanent secretary added that agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria remains largely underdeveloped marked by crude practices.
He added that the updated policy aims to foster an environment conducive to mechanisation, supporting training, research, and technological advancements, while establishing quality assurance standards.
The policy, which he said, outlines goals for sustainable growth and sets a roadmap for the development and management of the mechanisation sector, proposes institutional and legal frameworks to support interventions, which are expected to create a thriving mechanisation environment, raising productivity and farmer incomes as outlined in the National Agricultural Technology Innovation Policy (NATIP) 2022-2027.
“The implementation of agricultural mechanisation policy will require active engagement of all relevant stakeholders including government institutions and private sectors”.
He noted that its enactment by the National Assembly will further enable rapid development in the mechanisation sub-sector.
“The policy also encourages private sector-led investments, technological advancements, and capacity building for service providers and farmer organisations to ensure sustainability,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director of the Federal Department of Rural Development, Frank Kudla, described agriculture as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and highlighted the need for transformation to address population growth and climate change challenges.
He emphasized that mechanisation and innovation are vital to modernising the sector.
Kudla explained that the workshop brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and development partners to refine the draft policy, which aims to empower farmers and make Nigerian agriculture competitive on a global scale.
“The draft addresses crucial issues such as machinery access, training, finance, and sustainability, aiming to create an inclusive and actionable framework for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation,” he said.
