The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has clarified that the recent prayer session convened within the ministry should not be interpreted as a policy solution to the current food crisis in the country.
In a statement issued by Ezeaja Ikemefuna on behalf of the Director of Press, the ministry stressed that the prayer session was in response to internal concerns and should not overshadow the government's ongoing efforts to address food insecurity and stabilise the agricultural sector.
"The prayer is not a policy intervention. It does not diminish the progress the ministry is making in advancing the sector," the statement said.
The ministry highlighted key strategic interventions aimed at transforming Nigeria's agricultural landscape and mitigating the effects of rising food prices.
Top among these is the procurement of 1,000 tractors for mechanised farming under a commercial model directly supervised by President Bola Tinubu.
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The ministry also listed the rollout of a strategic grain reserve and price stabilisation programme, which includes the distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains and 58,200 metric tonnes of milled rice across the country.
To tackle food inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has donated 2.15 million bags of fertiliser, while the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) is undergoing recapitalisation to the tune of ₦1.5 trillion to boost access to affordable credit for farmers.
Other initiatives include the deployment of the National Electronic Extension Platform (NEEP) to strengthen digital agricultural advisory services, and revitalisation of the cooperative system through targeted training at the Federal Cooperative College.
Additionally, through a partnership with the World Bank, the ministry will rehabilitate 200,000 kilometres of rural roads under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) to enhance farm-to-market access.
Further support for farmers includes the free distribution of fertilisers, agrochemicals, and improved seeds, while the ministry is also implementing the National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) to provide subsidised inputs to registered farmers.
To improve transparency in delivery, the government is working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to integrate farmers' data.
