₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government on Tuesday reeled out a slew of new incentives to attract agricultural investment, which it said could create 21 million jobs in the country.

It also pledged reforms to expand irrigation, improve access to credit and create millions of rural jobs under President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda.

Vice President Kashim Shettima outlined the plans at the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s National and Subregional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Abuja, calling hunger “the great equaliser that reveals our vulnerabilities and the shared fragility of our existence.”

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed details of Tuesday’s meeting in a statement titled, ‘More incentives farmers as FG unveils new agric investment incentives.’

The measures include single-window platforms for land registration, strengthened agricultural credit systems, large-scale mechanisation, and strategic irrigation projects.

Tuesday’s unveiling comes as rising food prices and climate shocks have intensified calls for long-term investment in the sector.

Nigeria has been under pressure to cut its reliance on imports and address food insecurity, which worsened after fuel subsidy removal and currency reforms deepened inflation in 2023.

Shettima said Nigeria had the capacity to irrigate more than three million hectares of farmland but currently uses less than 10 percent of that potential.

“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks,” he stated.

“Nothing unifies humanity as much as hunger. It is the great equaliser that reveals our vulnerabilities and the shared fragility of our existence.

“Food is not merely a matter of survival, it is a matter of global security,” Shettima added.

The Vice President noted that Nigeria’s blueprint under the 2021–2025 National Development Plan aims to lift 35 million people out of poverty, create 21 million jobs in rural communities and secure food and nutrition sufficiency.

Shettima specifically observed that irrigation is a game-changer, noting that Nigeria has river basins and aquifers capable of irrigating over three million hectares but currently uses less than ten per cent.

“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks,” he added.

He assured investors that regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships and agri-tech innovations would make Nigeria “open for business.”

“Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with you. Let us work hand-in-hand to build Nigeria and a sub-region where no one goes to bed hungry, where rural communities are hubs of wealth creation, and where agriculture is the true foundation of our prosperity,” VP Shettima said.

Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, described Nigeria’s market, large arable land and growing digital economy as unique opportunities for investors.

He said a combination of Nigeria’s domestic market, large arable land, clement weather and fast-growing digital economy present unique opportunities for investment across the agribusiness ecosystem.

For his part, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said the economic potential of Nigeria remains largely untapped, especially in agriculture and irrigation, which hold significant promise for economic diversification and transformation.

He noted that agriculture, particularly agribusiness, remains a pivotal component of Nigeria’s national development plan in the medium and long term, as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

For his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security of The Gambia, Dr Demba Sabally, commended the FAO for hosting the event and Nigeria’s leadership in agriculture, highlighting the country’s success stories in the rice and cassava value chains as worthy of emulation by countries in the sub-region and beyond.

Sabally emphasised the need for peer review among countries in the West African sub-region because of their common challenges and opportunities for growth and transformation.

In the same vein, the representative of the FAO in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, said the Hand-in-Hand Initiative is FAO’s “evidence-based, country-led, and country-owned flagship programme, designed to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development.”

Gadain said the programme is squarely aimed at eradicating poverty, ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition, and reducing inequalities. It is our vehicle for achieving the SDGs.

Commending Nigeria’s clear agricultural development priorities and describing them as catalysts for transformative and sustainable growth within Africa’s agri-food systems, Gadain hailed Vice President Shettima’s genuine commitment and visionary leadership in transforming Nigeria’s agri-food systems.

According to the FAO rep, the VP’s “passion for agriculture, food security, and nutrition is unmatched. He has been a driving force in attracting crucial investments and fostering innovation, and his continued engagement deserves our highest commendation.”

Also, the Head of the EU Delegation in Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot, said the Hand-in-Hand Initiative reflects Nigeria’s strong commitment to strengthen food security and deepen investment across the agribusiness value chain.

He declared that the EU remains Nigeria’s long term partner in Nigeria’s agricultural journey and is committed to investing in value chain development in the country, starting with the recent investment of over 80 million euros to unlock opportunities in key value chains across seven states.

Reacting to the announcement, farmers urged the government to back the new farm incentives with action, pointing out that the initiatives would not yield results without implementation.

The National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kabir Kebram, stressed the need for follow-through.

“Definitely, it will boost if they are implemented. Of course, you can have a policy but unless you implement it very well, you cannot see the results. So we call on the Vice President to actualize what he promised and then to follow it up and make sure that it is properly implemented. We are sure that that will make a difference in the food system,” Kebram said.

The Chairman of the Competitive African Rice Forum, Agric, Peter Dama, also cautioned against ‘’a cycle of promises without delivery.’’

“Pronouncements are different from implementation. While we welcome all these pronouncements, we are still hoping that the pronunciations will be met with practicality, that it will be implemented the way they have said it.

“Somebody can come and read a speech, but then the actual implementation is something that might take some time. They made pronouncements about tractors. Today we are in August. Have those tractors been given? Already, we are moving toward the dry season.

“Government can make statements, but the implementation might take quite some time. I believe that if pronouncements are going to be made, let the actuality be on ground, as you are making pronouncements, you are dishing them out.

“But when you make pronouncements and it takes about six months, you know the cycle of our farming session in this country. We await the implementation. We are happy if it is actually going to be done and going to be implemented or not.

We are happy, but unless we see it, and by the time we see it, we will complement and encourage the government,” Dama said.

The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria faulted the Federal Government’s agricultural interventions, saying they have failed to improve the country’s food production.

In a phone interview with The PUNCH, National Secretary of SWOFON, Chinasa Asonye, said government efforts have not translated into meaningful impact for smallholder women farmers who form the backbone of food supply in Nigeria.

Asonye said, “Coming from the angle of a small-scale woman farmer, we know that government interventions on single-digit loans, women-friendly machines, access to land and inclusion in policies have not yielded results. One-third of what we have been advocating for has not been implemented. After developing different policies like the Malabo policy, CADI policy and WSHADA policy, are we even implementing one-third of them? The answer is no.”

She decried the government’s inability to meet the 10 per cent budgetary allocation to agriculture recommended under the Malabo Declaration, stressing that Nigeria currently spends less than 1.9 per cent on the sector.

“If we keep waiting for the government, we will never do anything. Some states in the North are helping their farmers with grants and support. But in the South-West, including Lagos, farmers are not benefitting from these renewed initiatives,” she said.

The SWOFON secretary also questioned the transparency of the government’s agricultural spending, noting that billions of naira were being earmarked without visible results.

She added that the school feeding programme had previously helped farmers by off-taking their produce but lamented that such initiatives were no longer benefiting smallholders.

“We will continue to talk, we will continue to tell them our issues, and probably one day the government will listen. They know our problems, but if they fail to look into them, farmers will keep struggling by themselves,” Asonye said.

“Pronouncements are different from implementation. While we welcome all these pronouncements, we are still hoping that the pronunciations will be met with practicality, that it will be implemented the way they have said it.

“Somebody can come and read a speech, but then the actual implementation is something that might take some time. They made pronouncements about tractors. Today we are in August. Have those tractors been given?

The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria saying they have failed to improve the country’s food production

The SWOFON secretary also questioned the transparency of the government’s agricultural spending, noting that billions of naira were being earmarked without visible results.

Nwaikpe:
A bold move for 2027 political funds

If you never knew, now you know.

helinues:
Sadness, you are here on this thread.. Displaying what you know best to do on positive news

Nwaikpe:
If that laptop you were given was a gaming laptop,
Only God would have delivered Nigeria from your hands

Just one common Pentium 3—that's what you are using to do all of these.

yns4real:
https://punchng.com/fg-unveils-agric-reforms-moves-to-create-21m-jobs/

ManirBK:
Aug 28, 2023

The Federal Government says it has no intention to borrow from any local or foreign organisation with its removal of subsidy on petrol and exchange rate harmonisation.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Chief Wale Edun, revealed this at the end of the inaugural Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the benefit of the subsidy removal would be ploughed back into various sectors aimed at boosting government revenue and improving the business environment for local and foreign investment.

Edun said that with the increased revenue from subsidy removal, various palliatives have been made available to cushion its effect on a short, medium and long-term basis.

He reiterated the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s desire to bring back the economy from the wood it has found itself over time.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/fg-ends-borrowing-finance-minister/amp/

helinues:
Another bitterness and sadness talk. Did anyone send you people to be labouring in vain?

yns4real:
https://punchng.com/fg-unveils-agric-reforms-moves-to-create-21m-jobs/

ShobayoEmma:
What a good development if actually actualized.
Tinubu presidency may actually be a blessing in disguise after all.
Prices of goods seem to be crashing anyways.
God bless Nigeria.


Tinubu, a bad man with good intentions.

Deltafirstson:
Although the pump price of fuel was N197 when President Bola Tinubu took over on May 29, 2023, the product now sells for N617 per litre – less than two months after.

In his inaugural address, Tinubu announced that subsidy was gone, fulfilling a promise that all leading presidential candidates made during the campaign.

However, pump price of fuel hit N537 per litre days after Tinubu ended subsidy.

On Tuesday, the price climbed further to N617, a development that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) attributed to “market forces”.

Nigerians have been lamenting the hardship occasioned by fuel price hike. Amid the lamentation, a video where Tinubu campaigned to slash the price of fuel went into circulation.

Checks by Daily Trust affirmed the authenticity of the video uploaded on the YouTube page of Channels Television.

At his campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on January 25, 2023, Tinubu spoke on a number of issues, but those of fuel scarcity and naira redesign made the headlines.

However, Tinubu who spoke in Yoruba language, also assured the crowd that though people were saying petrol price would hit N200, it would be reviewed downward under him.

“The great Nigerian youths, the great Nigerian students, the confident Nigerian youths. This is a revolution. This election is a revolution. They are plotting, but they will fail. They said fuel price will increase and reach N200 per litre. Go and relax, we will bring it down,” he had said in the 7th minute of the video.

King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, a Fuji musician who performed at the rally, interrupted the president’s speech with chants as the crowd cheered.

On the campaign podium with the president were Vice-President Kashim Shettima; Pa Bisi Akande, interim National Chairman of the APC; Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President; Senator Gbenga Daniel; among other bigwigs of the ruling party.

Tinubu went further to say Nigerians would defy the acute fuel scarcity at the time and trek to cast their votes.

“The great Nigerian youths, the great Nigerian students, the confident Nigerian youths. This is a revolution. This election is a revolution. They are plotting, but they will fail. They said fuel price will increase and reach N200/N500 per litre. Go and relax, we will crash the prices,” he had said.

https://dailytrust.com/breaking-video-of-tinubu-campaigning-to-crash-fuel-

he had said in the 7th minute of the video.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JH8CC_JdUA

ShobayoEmma:
What a good development if actually actualized.
Tinubu presidency may actually be a blessing in disguise after all.
Prices of goods seem to be crashing anyways.
God bless Nigeria.



Tinubu, a bad man with good intentions.

Kaiser20:
Tinubu News, Run ooh!
This government can never achieve any meaningful goal
Their Agenda are
Lies
Propaganda
Manipulation

dre11:
Joining APC Makes the Brain Stop Working’ and 4 More Daniel Bwala Anti-Tinubu Remarks

There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy: hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny. – Frederick William Robertson

Daniel Bwala, a staunch critic of President Tinubu, his administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been seen frolicking with the President in recent days, which has infuriated the public.

For his past statements against the APC, Bwala, who was a spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council during the 2023 elections, has now drawn backlash.

He was an APC member until he defected to the PDP in 2022. He would later cite the ruling party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as the reason for his exit.

While announcing his decision on X on July 10, 2022, Bwala wrote: “Tonight I officially resigned my membership of @OfficialAPCNg on principles and conviction that I hold so dear. At this time of our national existence, our efforts and energy should gravitate towards uniting our people.”

There are now speculations that he may return to the APC. He held a meeting with President Tinubu on Wednesday “to show appreciation and support for the bold decisions he is taking to deal with the crisis confronting [the] country”, and he revealed that he would support Tinubu without apologies, even if it meant going back to the APC.

Amid ongoing controversies surrounding Bwala’s recent interactions with the President, FIJ revisits five times in the past when he criticised the APC-led administration.

‘EVEN IF YOU GIVE TINUBU 30 YEARS, NOTHING WILL WORK‘

On December 25, 2023, Bwala expressed scepticism about President Tinubu’s ability to deliver within his four-year term. He argued that waiting for significant changes under Tinubu’s administration might not be feasible.

Bwala said, “When people talk about being patient and waiting, you have to look at the time frame the public officer is expected to execute the work. The President has just been voted into a term of four years. He is eight months into the term, which constitutes 31.8 percent of the total time that he has. He has less than 70 percent time in government; when is that going to happen? When President Buhari took over in 2015, it was the same language, and we patiently followed and he finished the first term and finished the second term. When there is a fundamental problem with policy, time is irrelevant; 30 years, it will not work.”


SOURCE

tpain121:
SAKAMANJE! 😁😁😁😁

All na lie. Don’t be deceived by the long write up. Na to confuse people!

Nwaikpe:
A bold move for 2027 political funds

If you never knew, now you know.




But laptop boyz, over to you. Tell us more.

jamafa:
A bold move for 2027 political fund as you said 😂

If dem do, unah go talk. If dem no do, unah go still wail.

Hatred is a disease o