By Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
The Executive Chairman of Ezza South Local Government Area, Mrs. Euphemia Nwali, has pledged strict oversight of the distribution of free agricultural inputs to rural farmers in the council area, as part of efforts to bolster food security and agricultural productivity.
Mrs. Nwali made the declaration on Tuesday at Onueke, the council headquarters, following the official flag-off of the 2025 wet season farm input distribution by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku.
The Chairman lauded Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for prioritising agriculture in his administration’s development agenda. She assured the public that every item distributed fertilisers, improved rice seeds, and agrochemicals would be monitored to ensure they reached the intended beneficiaries and were not diverted.
“We appreciate our Governor for empowering our farmers with fertiliser, rice, and agrochemicals. I assure our people that these items will not be diverted. We are putting measures in place to ensure proper use,” she said.
Reaffirming her commitment to accountability, Mrs. Nwali announced the formation of a local task force to oversee the entire distribution process and prevent the resale or misuse of inputs.
“Every year, I establish a task force to track these inputs. If any individual or community is caught selling what was given freely, we will retrieve it. We are not taking chances this year,” she warned.
She emphasised that the inputs would be distributed only to verified farmers, including community stakeholders and traditional leaders actively involved in agriculture.
“We’re targeting real farmers. We’ll share it word for word. With this, we’ll increase our food output and have a surplus by next season,” she added.
In her keynote address, Commissioner Nkechinyere Iyioku commended Mrs. Nwali’s proactive leadership, especially the establishment of council-owned farms in Ezza South, which she described as a model for other LGAs.
She urged Development Centre Coordinators across Ebonyi to emulate Ezza South’s approach to grassroots agricultural development.
The Commissioner also announced a new reward scheme for high-performing local councils and development centres, which will be recognised at the forthcoming state agricultural show during the harvest season.
“We are not only encouraging farming, we are institutionalising agricultural excellence. This administration will continue to back initiatives that ensure food security and long-term economic growth,” she stated.
Commissioner Iyioku reaffirmed Governor Nwifuru’s vision to transform Ebonyi into Nigeria’s food basket, noting that local governments play a vital role in actualising that ambition.
The event concluded with the symbolic handing over of inputs to selected farmers and traditional rulers, signalling the beginning of a new farming season marked by renewed hope, accountability, and community-driven agricultural development in Ezza South.