– Over 1,000 Cooperatives Benefit as Tinubu’s Food Security Drive Gains Momentum
In a renewed effort to tackle Nigeria’s food crisis and reposition agriculture as the backbone of national prosperity, the Federal Government has launched a massive, nationwide distribution of free agricultural inputs and equipment to smallholder farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative, implemented through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) under the leadership of Senator Abubakar Kyari, targets thousands of farmers’ cooperatives, commodity associations, women and youth groups, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremonies held across various states — including Sokoto, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, Zamfara, Enugu, Adamawa, and Ebonyi — Senator Kyari said the initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which declares food security as a national emergency.
“This administration considers food security a matter of urgent national importance. By empowering smallholder farmers with modern tools and essential inputs, we are laying the foundation for increased productivity, job creation, and rural prosperity,” Kyari stated.
Represented by senior officials of the Ministry in each state, the Minister explained that the intervention aims to make critical farm inputs accessible to those most affected by rising costs and economic pressures. The items distributed include power tillers, motorised and solar water pumps, knapsack sprayers, pesticides, fungicides, organic and inorganic fertilisers, dehydrators, threshers, improved seed varieties such as FARO 44 rice, cocoa fertilisers, and other essential farm tools.
In Taraba State, over 200 cooperative groups received their allocations. In Adamawa, 30 cooperatives benefited from the first phase, while in Sokoto, 49 agricultural groups were empowered. The rollout in Gombe, Zamfara, Bauchi, Enugu, and Ebonyi also reached hundreds of farmers, signalling what the Ministry describes as “one of the largest single agricultural support programmes in recent history.”
The Federal Government underscored that the inputs are distributed completely free of charge and urged beneficiaries to use them responsibly rather than selling them.
“These inputs are not for sale. They are lifelines to enable farmers to cultivate more and feed the nation,” Kyari warned. “Our goal is not just to give tools, but to transform lives and ensure no Nigerian goes hungry again.”
Officials of the Ministry in the states reaffirmed the commitment to transparency and accountability in the distribution process. They emphasised that only verified and registered cooperatives were selected to ensure that the support reaches real farmers rather than political beneficiaries.
Hajiya Hadiza Abdullahi, the Sokoto State Coordinator of the Ministry, said the initiative will “significantly boost food production and restore farmers’ confidence.” Similarly, Dr. William Obazi, the Ebonyi Coordinator, assured that the government will monitor utilisation to ensure the inputs translate into real productivity.
State governments have also pledged alignment with the federal initiative. In Taraba, Governor Agbu Kefas’ Special Adviser on Food Security, Hassan Maikasuwa, said the intervention complements the state’s vision to reestablish its reputation as a food basket for Nigeria and West Africa.
In Bauchi, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Iliyasu Gital, noted that both federal and state governments share the same goal of transforming agriculture into a profitable, youth-driven enterprise.
Farmers across the country have expressed deep appreciation for the intervention.
In Enugu, Patrick Mbah, Chairman of the Graduate Farmers Association, described the programme as “timely and empowering,” while Benedict Ekwochi, representing farmers with disabilities, said it restored hope and inclusion in agricultural policy.
In Gombe, Lauretta Abdullahi, leader of the Samunakankan Women Group, lauded the Federal Government for recognising women’s vital role in agriculture:
“For years, women were sidelined. Today, we are part of the national drive to feed our nation. This inclusion brings dignity and real change to rural communities,” she said.
Similar sentiments were echoed in Zamfara, where the State Secretary of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Abdullahi Nakwada, described the gesture as “a concrete expression of President Tinubu’s commitment to food sufficiency and poverty reduction.”
The Minister reaffirmed that the initiative directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2 – Zero Hunger, and aligns with Nigeria’s long-term agricultural transformation agenda.
He added that the distribution is part of a broader framework to strengthen agricultural value chains, promote mechanisation, and develop profitable synergies between government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and private investors.
“We are not just distributing equipment; we are building the foundation for sustainable growth, food sovereignty, and shared prosperity. The Renewed Hope in agriculture is not rhetoric — it is action in every village and every farm across Nigeria,” Kyari declared.
As the programme continues nationwide, stakeholders — from state governments and development partners to cooperative unions — are urged to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to ensure the initiative achieves its overarching vision: a food-secure Nigeria where farmers thrive, markets grow, and hunger is history.