The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has delivered 68,087 litres of liquid gel fertilizer to the Niger State government for onward distribution to farmers impacted by the 2018 flood disaster.
This intervention is undertaken pursuant to the National Food Security Council-Emergency Agricultural Intervention (NFSC-EAI) initiative.
The Acting Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, formally received the fertilizer at a ceremony held in Minna, the state capital. NEMA Director-General Mrs. Zubaida Umar headed the delegation that delivered the items.
While presenting the fertilizer, the NEMA Director-General, who was represented by the Director Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Onimode Bandele, explained that the liquid gel fertilizer was a substitute for the remaining NPK fertilizer allocated to Niger State under the NFSC-EAI program initiated in 2020.
She attributed the delayed distribution to regulatory changes imposed by the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI).
According to her, the PFI ended the previous contract and initiated a new one, replacing the granular powder fertilizer with liquid gel as recommended by the National Security Adviser’s office. Umar noted that one liter of the liquid gel fertilizer is equivalent to 50 kilograms of NPK 20-10-10 fertilizer and that the procurement process extended from 2022 to February 2024.
She commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for his agricultural efforts aligned with national food security policies and urged for the prompt distribution of the liquid gel fertilizer to its intended recipients.
In response, the Acting Governor, Yakubu Garba hailed the fertilizer donation as a boost to the state’s agricultural endeavors, expressing confidence in the state’s ability to excel in this sector.
The Acting Governor gave assurance that the fertilizer would be distributed transparently and equitably among the intended beneficiaries, noting that the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) had meticulously documented the farmers affected by the 2018 flood, ensuring a seamless and targeted allocation of the relief materials.
