The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, has revealed that 118,000 hectares of wheat have been cultivated across 11 states as part of ongoing efforts to enhance food production and address shortages.
Speaking in a programme in Abuja, monitored by AgroNigeria on Wednesday, Abdullahi highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s intervention through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket Project, which has significantly strengthened wheat farming in Nigeria.
“When we took office for the 2023/2024 dry season farming, we implemented an unprecedented approach to revitalize wheat farming, which had previously been weak. Thanks to the President’s intervention, we successfully cultivated 118,000 hectares of wheat across 11 wheat-producing states,” he stated.
He further noted that contributions from private sector stakeholders, including Flour Mills of Nigeria and independent farmers, likely pushed total cultivation beyond the government’s recorded figures.
According to him, the initiative has introduced over 500,000 metric tons of wheat into the economy, marking a major achievement in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The minister assured Nigerians that the country is not facing a food shortage, dismissing concerns about food insecurity.
“Nigeria has not experienced food scarcity, and by the grace of God, it never will,” he stated. “While macroeconomic factors are affecting food prices, Mr. The President is aware of these challenges and is actively working to address them.”
To boost agricultural productivity, mechanization programs are being implemented to enhance farmers’ efficiency.
“We must improve output by integrating mechanization, and we currently have four programs underway. Equipment delivery has already begun, and we are collaborating with state governments, including Niger, Kebbi, and Kaduna, to roll out these initiatives,” he stated.
Abdullahi further highlighted that Nigeria has refined its agricultural strategy to enable continuous, year-round cultivation of staple crops, ensuring a stable supply and helping to regulate food prices.