…As Cooperative Societies Receive Agricultural Inputs

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on Saturday flagged off the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) project for over 6,000 farmers, aimed at strengthening food security and boosting local production.

The NAGS-AP project has become one of the Federal Government’s most effective tools for empowering smallholder farmers, who produce more than 80% of Nigeria’s food, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The event, held at the Jere Bowl in Dusuman, Jere Local Government Area, also marked the commencement of the Federal Government’s wheat cultivation intervention programme.

In a first-of-its-kind gesture, the Minister symbolically presented agricultural inputs to Cooperative Societies and Associations at the State Office of the Ministry along Airport Road, Maiduguri. Inputs distributed included high-yield wheat seeds, blended fertilisers, tractors, and pesticides.

Senator Kyari revealed that for the 2025/2026 farming season, the programme is targeting 80,000 registered farmers nationwide, with an expected output value of about N160 billion. He explained that of the 40,000 hectares earmarked for wheat production during the dry season, 3,000 hectares have been allocated to Borno State—covering 6,000 registered farmers.

He stated that this support would be followed by the second phase of the programme, which will promote the cultivation of other priority crop value chains across the state.

“By providing quality inputs and field-level extension services, the NAGS-AP is driving measurable gains in productivity and strengthening the systems that support the growth of our agricultural economy,” Kyari said.

He noted that the programme comes at a time when Nigeria has placed food security at the highest level of national priority. Recalling President Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency on Food and Nutrition Security in July 2023, he said the directive has driven stronger collaboration across ministries and agencies to stabilise the food system.

Kyari further disclosed that the wheat component of the NAGS-AP covers 16 wheat-producing states—Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara. Cross River’s inclusion last year expanded wheat production to the southern region for the first time.

“We began this renewed phase in Kadame village, Hadejia, Jigawa State, during the 2023/2024 season, continued in Calabar, Cross River State, in the 2024/2025 season, and today, we are honoured to host the 2025/2026 national flag-off here in Maiduguri, Borno State.”

He described the choice of Maiduguri as symbolic and personal, reflecting both Borno’s potential and his own connection to the state.

Kyari also praised Governor Zulum’s leadership, describing Borno as a “model of resilience and progress.” He highlighted the successes of previous dry-season programmes, which supported 107,429 farmers in 2023/2024 and 279,297 farmers in 2024/2025, with outputs valued at N474.6 billion and N893.7 billion respectively.

He acknowledged the support of development partners, particularly the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for their crucial role in strengthening input delivery mechanisms and productivity.

In his remarks, Governor Zulum thanked the Federal Government and the Ministry for the support, describing the initiative as key to repositioning Borno in its post-insurgency era of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR).

“Here in Borno State, wheat cultivation is not just a programme; it is a transformative initiative,” Zulum said. “Through targeted investments in irrigation, mechanisation, quality inputs, and extension services, we are equipping farmers to achieve higher yields and contribute meaningfully to national output.”

He highlighted the achievements of the state’s agricultural support programmes, which have reached tens of thousands of smallholder farmers, resettled families, women, and youths.

Zulum commended President Tinubu for prioritising food security and thanked Minister Kyari for selecting Borno as a priority location for scaled wheat production.

The event was attended by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central); Abdulkadir Rahis, Member Representing Maiduguri; Engr Bukar Talba of Marte, Monguno, and Nganzai; the Shehu of Borno, Dr Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi; Deputy Speaker of Borno House of Assembly, Engr Abdullahi Askira; Acting Chief of Staff Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, and other senior officials.