As part of efforts to combat hunger and ensure food security, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the sum of N350 billion for the reticulation and desilting of dams under Nigeria’s River Basin Development Authorities, to facilitate massive irrigation of farmlands across the country.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), revealed this on Tuesday during a large-scale empowerment programme where over 5,000 farmers from Ogun State’s 20 local government areas benefitted from equipment, inputs, and financial support.
Senator Adeola, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District, stated that the empowerment was aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on agricultural development and food sufficiency.
According to him, “A major highlight of the Renewed Hope Agenda on agriculture is the drive to ensure all year-round farming with a target of three farming seasons annually. This has led Mr. President to approve over N350 billion for the reticulation and desilting of dams nationwide through the River Basin Development Authorities.”
He also disclosed that a significant initiative within the agenda is the holistic development of the livestock sector. “The President has established a full-fledged Ministry of Livestock Development to tackle challenges in livestock production and boost output across species. The sum of N12 billion has been budgeted for this ministry, with ranches to be established in seven states including Lagos and Ogun,” he added.
The senator highlighted key challenges farmers face including low productivity, outdated techniques, lack of modern training, limited access to funds, and the high cost of inputs such as implements and seedlings.
To mitigate these, the 5,000 beneficiaries underwent two months of intensive training conducted by the Federal College of Agriculture, Isiagu, Ebonyi State, and the Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan. As part of their empowerment, each farmer received N100,000 in financial support.
Commending Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Senator Adeola acknowledged the state’s complementary efforts. “Governor Abiodun has been supportive with the provision of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and allocation of free farmland to farmers, which aligns perfectly with the federal government’s agenda,” he said.
In her remarks, the Ogun State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Àjàyí, praised President Tinubu’s commitment to eradicating poverty through agriculture.
“Mr. President is making intentional efforts to reduce poverty nationwide by ensuring food availability and sustainability,” she said. She also lauded Senator Adeola’s intervention, describing it as “a timely and impactful support system for smallholder farmers across Ogun State.”
Distributed items included tractors, fertilizers, insecticides, water pumps, cassava stems, sprayers, and other critical farming tools.
