Farmers in Abuja received 30 trucks of fertilizer from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday and urged the administration to work directly with them, rather than with so-called “social media farmers.”
The Chairman of the FCT chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ifraimu Dauda, made this appeal during a ceremony organized by the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCTA to officially launch the distribution.
At the event, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the FCT Minister of State, announced the distribution of approximately 900 metric tonnes of fertilizer, donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMA&FS) for farmers in Abuja.
“In the past two months, we have taken several steps to boost food production. Through collaborations with the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank, we have provided farmers with a wide range of agricultural inputs,” Mahmoud said.
She added that the FCTA had also distributed palliatives approved by the President, bringing relief to residents of the FCT.
Mahmoud emphasized that the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat had strictly followed the CBN’s guidelines for distribution, which included setting up a broad-based ad-hoc committee to ensure the fertilizers reach the intended farmers.
The minister thanked partners for their support in training Agricultural Extension Agents and farmers, stressing the administration’s commitment to continuing these efforts to empower agricultural stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and skills.
Hon. Lawan Kolo Geidam, Mandate Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, noted that the CBN’s donation was a timely response to the global food crisis, worsened by climate change, low production, and high prices. He emphasized that this intervention reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to his Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes agricultural revitalization by providing essential inputs to farmers.
“We are optimistic that the generous supply of fertilizers will lead to a bumper harvest this year, boosting food availability, nutrition, economic growth, and the overall well-being of FCT residents,” Geidam said.
In her address, Grace Adayilo, Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, highlighted the vital role of agriculture in human livelihood, noting that it is essential for food and economic prosperity. She assured that the fertilizers would be distributed to genuine farmers who have been verified by the committee.
In his remarks, FCT AFAN Chairman Ifraimu Dauda thanked the administration for its ongoing engagement with real farmers in the FCT, despite the activities of “social media farmers.”
“It is time to stop dealing with social media farmers and focus on the real farmers.
“The Secretariat has made significant progress in this area, and I urge FCT farmers to use the fertilizers for their intended purpose, not to sell them.”
Dauda also called for support in the area of irrigation farming, noting that all six Area Councils in Abuja are suitable for year-round irrigation farming.
