The Federal Government has restated its commitment towards securing Nigeria’s food supply by intensifying agricultural development efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
This assurance was given by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the official launch of the 2025/2026 wheat farming season in Maiduguri.
Senator Kyari explained that the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) remains a major driver of the government’s plan to empower smallholder farmers. Through the scheme, farmers receive improved planting materials, fertilisers, mechanisation support, irrigation facilities, and technical guidance to enhance production.
He said the initiative is primarily focused on wheat-producing states, Borno, Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, and Plateau, with the goal of cutting down Nigeria’s wheat import bill and strengthening food sufficiency.
According to him, the government aims to ensure that farmers across the country have the right inputs and knowledge to maximise their productivity, noting that many farmers are already benefiting from the programme and recording better yields.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who spoke after the Minister’s address, expressed gratitude for the Federal Government’s support and applauded Senator Kyari’s role in making Borno a central location in the wheat production drive.
He described the launch as a symbol of renewed optimism for the state and stressed that no household should be left vulnerable to hunger.
The Governor highlighted the significant gains made in the state’s agricultural sector.
He said many farmers now operate with modern irrigation systems, solar and diesel pumps, tractors, fertilisers, and regular advisory services, tools that have enabled communities in Damasak, Baga, Gala, Bama, Dikwa, Monguno, Bayo, and other areas to engage in continuous farming throughout the year.
Zulum added that some communities, particularly in Baga, Monguno, and Kauwa achieved harvests substantial enough to sustain their families for long periods.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in supporting vulnerable groups, including returnees, women-led homes, and youths in 10 conflict-impacted local government areas.
The Governor praised federal initiatives such as the Presidential Agricultural Insurance Scheme, which protects farmers from extreme weather events and other risks.
He also commended the efforts of the Borno State agricultural leadership team for strengthening markets, supporting farmers, and promoting stability in communities recovering from conflict.
According to him, Borno is progressing toward all-year wheat cultivation through science-driven and technology-enhanced farming practices.
Commissioner Bawa Musami welcomed participants to the commencement of the Agricultural Input Distribution under NAGS-AP for the 2025–2026 dry-season wheat programme.
He thanked the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for choosing Borno as the starting point for the national rollout.
He said the Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Zulum’s long-term agricultural reforms are repositioning agriculture as a key contributor to Nigeria’s economic growth.
He explained that current efforts aim to expand farmland, strengthen irrigation and mechanisation, improve farmers’ access to credit, and ultimately bolster the nation’s food supply.
Musami noted that Nigeria consumes almost 6 million metric tonnes of wheat annually but produces only a fraction of that amount.
Closing this gap, he said, requires modernised production systems, larger cultivated areas, and improved yields.
He pointed out that Borno State holds one of the most significant irrigation capacities in West Africa, with about 400,000 hectares spread across the Lake Chad Basin, Komadugu-Yobe Basin, Yerzaran Valley, Jerry Bowl, Arrow Dam, and Sunkesha.
Large-scale interventions such as the South Chad Irrigation Project (SCIP) and the restoration of the Baja, Kamburu, and Ladari irrigation schemes have turned thousands of hectares into functioning farmlands equipped with solar-powered technology and modern infrastructure.
Through free inputs, subsidised fertilisers, mechanisation support, irrigation services, and extension guidance, the state has helped farmers reduce costs and increase production.
As a result, more than 2,000 hectares were cultivated during the 2024–2025 irrigation season, cementing Borno’s position as a rising leader in wheat production nationwide.
