In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, outcomes from the FEC meeting in Abuja detailed plans to procure agricultural equipment aimed at bolstering national food security through the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (NAMP).
The equipment, including 2000 tractors, 4000 disc ploughs, 1000 disc ridges, 1200 tractor trailers, and assorted spare parts, will be supplied by DMCC. The firm also intends to establish assembly plants in Nigeria, following similar initiatives in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, and Togo.
Additionally, the federal government intends to collaborate with stakeholders to establish a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) for commodities, enhance production among smallholder farmers in the upcoming 2024/2025 farming season, and promote the production of fortified food commodities.
These efforts come amidst Nigeria’s grappling with a severe food security crisis, marked by a 40.5% food inflation rate, leading to significant challenges for households across the nation in providing for their families. Staple food prices, particularly grains, have surged by over 100% in the past year.
Recently, the government also announced plans to provide ₦50,000 to 100,000 households monthly for three months and allocate ₦155 billion towards purchasing and distributing food items nationwide.
