The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has said that Nigeria’s agricultural sector deserves national priority.
Senator Mustapha made the disclosure at a joint budget defence session for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Abuja.
He noted that the 2026 budget estimate is anchored on the National Agricultural System Investment Plan and the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy, aimed at addressing challenges limiting the sector’s growth.
According to him, the budget defence exercise is important for both the National Assembly and the ministry.
“It is imperative that agriculture receives timely and adequate funding. Untimely release of funds weakens the sector’s role in food security. Agriculture should be given national priority,” Senator Mustapha said.
He, however, lamented that capital performance for the 2025 budget was low and stressed the need to return to a January–December budget cycle for greater effectiveness.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi, said the ministry has recorded success in most of its outcomes.
“We have very good projects that we have started and will need funds to sustain them,” he said.
The minister raised concerns over the plight of Nigerian farmers, citing high production costs and insecurity. He noted that despite the challenges, the agricultural sector is not performing badly.
“We have done so much to encourage Nigerians to return to farming in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Nigeria First’ policy of producing what we eat and eating what we produce. Our intention is to increase the production of major staples to ensure food security. When we started, food prices were high; today, prices have dropped. However, we are dealing with two opposing forces—farmers seeking reasonable profit and citizens wanting affordable food. While food prices are relatively lower, farmers are still burdened by high input costs. We remain strongly committed to helping farmers increase productivity,” Abdullahi said.
Promoting Grassroots Farming
Responding to observations from members of the joint committee, the minister disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has procured over 2,000 tractors for distribution to farmers.
He said the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) was mandated to distribute the tractors to farmers, youths, and women involved in agriculture, adding that the process is ongoing.
“The distribution is well targeted. Our target is to complete it as the rainy season approaches,” he said.
Abdullahi also announced that the Renewed Hope Project has been renamed the National Urban Agricultural Programme (NUAP) to promote grassroots farming. He added that the ministry is engaging all states of the federation to boost food production.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Services, Mr. Bello Kaoje, sought clarification on the Federal Government’s agreement with the African Development Bank to increase food production. He queried how funds from development partners are being utilised.
Members of the joint committee asked several questions, which were addressed by the minister.