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FG distributes agro-inputs worth N2.8b to 14,000 farmers in Anambra, Enugu
The Federal Government, on Tuesday, distributed agro-inputs to 14,000 farmers worth N2.8 billion in Anambra and Enugu States under the Adani-Omor Zone of Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme, Phase One (ATASP-1).
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during the agro inputs distribution part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) in ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zone in Ikem within Isi-Uzo Council Area.
Kyari, represented by Dr Peter Kursh, said the distributed farm inputs to ATASP-1 farmers were redeemed at subsidized rate, adding: ‘This exercise has cost the programme about N5 billion.”
The minister said that Adani-Omor Zone had not benefited because it was off season at the time of planning, hence the need to implement this laudable programme in Enugu and Anambra States of the Adani-Omor Zone.
“The programme competitively procured Agro-Dealers that will provide Agricultural Inputs to about 14,000 ATASP-1 farmers in Adani-Omor i.e Enugu and Anambra States at 50 per cent subsidy with a total cost of about N2.8 billion.
“Each of the benefitting farmer will receive a package of two bags of inorganic NPK/Urea fertilizer, one bag of organic fertilizer, 10kg of seeds of either maize/rice/sorghum and four litres of Agro-chemicals delivered through ICT platform,” he said.
Kyari noted that the agricultural policy of Federal Government aims at the attainment of self-sustaining growth in all the sub- sectors of agriculture and the structural transformation necessary for the overall socio-economic development.
According to him, the policy also meant to ensure improvement in the quality of life of Nigerians.
He said: “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, Federal Government is currently implementing the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) across the nation.
“Farmers have been registered and agro-inputs are being distributed to the farmers in the last dry season and the current rainy season.
“This significant milestone marks a crucial step in our commitment to empowering our farmers and enhancing agricultural productivity.
“By providing quality inputs, we aim to support our farmers in achieving higher yields and ensuring food security for Nigeria.”
Flagging the distribution, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State appreciated Tinubu for his visionary agricultural policies as well as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and African Development Bank (AFDB) for their support to the state through AtASP-1.
Mbah, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ubru, said that subsidised Input distribution is one of such interventions coming on the platform of the National Agriculture Growth Scheme (NAGS)-AP, through ATASP-1 project.
According to the governor, this is a crucial step towards enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security in our state.
He said: “The objective of the NAGS-AP project aligns perfectly with our vision of achieving food security, nutrition security, and sustainable development through agriculture.
“I commend the Federal Government for its commitment to providing agricultural inputs to our smallholder farmers, a move that resonates with the agenda of my administration in agriculture.”
Earlier, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo lauded President Bola Tinubu and
African Development Bank (AFDB) for assisting smallholder farmers to grow and provision of infrastructure to boost food production through ATASP-1.
Soludo, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture in Anambra, Dr Foster Ihejiofor, said that the distribution is a fulfillment of Federal Government earlier promise to smallholder farmers in 2023.
“The ATASP-1 has been highly beneficial to the participating communities in Anambra State and contributed to the educational and health wellbeing of our people,” the governor said.
The National Programme Coordinator ATASP-1, Mr Mohammed Arabi, noted that “ATASP is a game changer” in agricultural development focusing on wheat, rice, cassava and sorghum within the country.
Arabi noted that ATASP-1 had recorded tremendous progress in the past years of its operation.
According to him, notably among the achievements are construction of socio-economic infrastructures such as primary schools, community health centres, boreholes and hand pump, VIP latrines and community markets.
“Other achievements included technology demonstration centres, feeder roads and construction and rehabilitation of irrigation facilities across the seven states of the programme,” he said.
Dr Romanus Egba, Zonal Programme Co-ordinator of ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zone, appreciated the Federal, Anambra and Enugu State governments for providing enabling environment to work together to give subsidised agro-inputs to farmers in the zone.
Egba said that today, “an average person is a farmer and these agro-inputs will go a long for bumper harvest, food production and food sufficiency in the country.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Paulinus Orji, a sorghum farmer, thanked the Federal Government and ATASP-1 for making the subsidised agro-inputs possible.
“These inputs we collect today, we are going to get bumper and bountiful harvest from it in few months to come,” Orji said.
Tukur died on Saturday, September 12, 2026, according to a statement issued by his family and signed by his son, Awwal D. Tukur.
The family described the former PDP chairman as its “beloved father and patriarch,” saying he lived a life of service to his family, community, Adamawa State and Nigeria.
“It is with profound sadness and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah that the family announces the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Alhaji Bamanga Mohammed Tukur, who returned to his Creator today 12th September 2026,” he said.
The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David A. B. Mark, GCON, has expressed deep sadness over the passing of former Governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbodinyan in Abuja.
Senator Mark described the death of the elder statesman as a great loss to Nigeria, particularly at a time when the country needs the wisdom, experience and counsel of its older generation of leaders.
He said Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was a prominent figure whose contributions to Nigeria’s political, administrative and economic development spanned several decades.
According to him, Tukur’s public service record, including his tenure as Governor of the old Gongola State, his service as Minister of Industries and his later leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reflected a life devoted to the service of the nation.
Senator Mark noted that the deceased was also an accomplished businessman and international figure whose contributions extended beyond partisan politics to national development and institution-building.
“Alhaji Bamanga Tukur belonged to a generation of Nigerians who devoted their lives to the service of the country. His journey through public service, business and politics was remarkable, and his counsel and experience will be greatly missed.
“His death is not only a loss to his family and the people of Adamawa State, but also to Nigeria as a whole. At this difficult moment, we must remember and celebrate the values of service, patriotism and national unity that characterised his long public career.”
Senator Mark commiserated with the Tukur family, the government and people of Adamawa State, as well as the many associates and political colleagues of the deceased.
He prayed Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him eternal rest and give his family the strength to bear the loss.
Aggrieved people of Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State took to the streets on Friday in protest against incessant attacks, kidnappings and the worsening security situation threatening lives, livelihoods and economic activities in the area.
The protest, which reportedly drew residents from parts of the local government, was said to have been triggered by growing fears over repeated attacks and abductions allegedly carried out by armed criminals operating around vulnerable communities.
The protesters expressed deep concern over what they described as the persistent insecurity confronting the area, calling on the Federal and Sokoto State governments to take urgent and decisive measures to protect residents from further attacks.
They lamented that the continued incidents had created an atmosphere of fear, particularly among farmers, traders and rural dwellers whose livelihoods depend largely on unrestricted access to farms, markets and other economic activities.
The demonstrators reportedly demanded the deployment of more security personnel and operational assets to vulnerable communities, insisting that security agencies must intensify patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations to prevent further attacks.
They also appealed for stronger collaboration among the military, police and other security agencies to track down criminal elements responsible for the attacks and restore confidence among residents.
The protesters said the situation had assumed a disturbing dimension capable of undermining agricultural production and forcing residents to abandon their communities and farmlands for safer locations.
Responding to concerns over the development, the Sokoto State Police Command confirmed that it was aware of the situation and assured residents that security operatives were “on top of the situation.”
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ahmad Rufai, who confirmed the development, said the police were monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to maintain security and protect lives and property in the affected area.
The assurance came amid heightened anxiety among residents, many of whom are demanding not only immediate security intervention but also sustained operations capable of preventing further attacks and kidnappings.
The latest protest has further highlighted the mounting security challenges confronting parts of the North-West, where banditry and kidnapping have continued to threaten rural communities, disrupt agriculture and inflict severe social and economic hardship on vulnerable populations.
Residents are therefore urging the authorities to translate assurances into visible and sustained security operations, arguing that the ultimate measure of success would be the restoration of peace and the ability of citizens to live, farm and conduct their legitimate businesses without fear.
As tension persists, stakeholders are calling for strengthened intelligence gathering, community engagement and coordinated security operations to ensure that Tambuwal and neighbouring communities do not become increasingly vulnerable to criminal elements. (Vanguard)
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