From Rashidat Suleiman,Minna
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritising agriculture as a key driver of economic growth and national stability, stressing that Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on boosting food production and strengthening agricultural systems to ensure nationwide food security.
She made this known on Saturday at the flag-off of the 2026 farming season held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, where she emphasised that agriculture is central to the administration’s agenda for economic development and poverty reduction.
Mrs. Tinubu commended farmers for their resilience and contribution to the nation’s food supply, urging stakeholders to support agricultural programmes through strategic investment, innovation, and policies that will enhance productivity and build a sustainable food system.
Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, has reaffirmed the state’s status as a leading agricultural hub during the flag-off of the 2026 farming season, an event aligned with the First Lady’s “Every Home a Garden” initiative.
The governor said the exercise goes beyond a ceremonial launch, highlighting the distribution of key farming inputs to boost productivity and strengthen the agricultural value chain. He announced the deployment of 250 tractors across the 25 local government areas, 50 combined harvesters, 1,500 implements including planters, sprayers, ploughs and harrows and 150,000 bags of fertiliser to support farmers statewide.
Bago noted that the intervention supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in enhancing food security. He added that since the launch of the state’s agricultural mechanisation drive in March 2024, output has improved, reiterating his administration’s commitment to agriculture and urging stakeholders to partner with Niger Foods to sustain growth.
In his remarks, the Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Isah Sidi disclosed that the distribution of these tractors signifies a major step towards mechanizing agriculture activities in the State which increases efficiency, ability to cultivate larger areas, improve productivity, and also the provision of essential inputs such as fertilizers, chemicals to achieve optimal yields.
The Minister of Agriculture, Abdullahi Sabi and his counterpart Minister for information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi applauded the governor for the initiative and prioritizing agriculture in the state which is in line with the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.