Connect with us

Business

92% Registered Farmers Now Access Subsidised Seeds, Fertilisers – Minister

Published

12 years ago

on

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said that92 per cent of the more than 11million registered farmers have access to improved seeds and fertiliser.
Adesina made this known in Abuja at the ongoing four-day Public Affairs Forum with the theme “The Jonathan Administration: Four Impactful Years.’’
He said “the Jonathan-led administration was able to end 40 years of corruption in fertiliser distribution in 90 days.
“This was made possible through the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme of the Federal Government that created an enabling environment for the private sector to drive the agricultural sector.
“Today, we have about 11million registered farmers across the country and 92 per cent of them have access to subsidised fertilisers and seeds.’’
Adesina said before the Jonathan-led administration, there were only five seed companies in the country, but now increased to 84 seed companies.
The minister said the growth had increased availability of improved seeds to farmers from 5, 000 tonnes to 171,000 tonnes.
He said the Federal Government’s efforts in transforming the fertiliser sub-sector had attracted five billion dollars of private investment to the sub-sector.
He added that Olam Rice had invested 125 million dollars in rice production and processing in the country, while Dominion Rice and Dangote Rice invested 40 million dollars and 1billion dollars respectively in rice production and processing.
Adesina said the Federal Government had inaugurated Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centres to enable farmers to have access to heavy farm machines at subsidised rates through GES scheme.
According to him, 1,200 centres will be established across the country before the end of the year.
He noted that there would be a total of 600,000 tractors, 15,000 power tillers among many other heavy farm machines, stressing that “government wants hoes and cutlasses kept in the museum.’’
The minister urged farmers across the country to support President Goodluck Jonathan “so as to benefit more from his good intentions for farmers.’’
Earlier, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Mr Doyin Okupe, said the Forum was to enlighten the public on the achievements of the Jonathan-led administration.
He explained that the Forum was necessary “as there are false stories by a section of Nigerians on progress made by this administration.’’
Okupa said 48.5 per cent of the national budget went to states and local governments, while the other 48.5 was left with the Federal Government.
He added that with the funds, the Federal Government took care of the military and foreign affairs and was still involved in other sectors like primary and secondary education.
The special adviser urged Nigerians not to focus attention on the Federal Government alone, but also hold states and local governments accountable for the funds they received.

Chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon Victoria Nyeche (2nd left) cutting a tape to commission the refuse compactor truck donated to Rivers State Management Agency by BRT Onne, Mobil Production in Port Harcourt last Wednesday. With her are Sole Administrator, RIWAMA, Mr Ade Adeogun (right) and Manager, Public and Government Affairs, BRT, Onne, Mobil Production, Mr Adeyemi FAkayejo (left). Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon Victoria Nyeche (2nd left) cutting a tape to commission the refuse compactor truck donated to Rivers State Management Agency by BRT Onne, Mobil Production in Port Harcourt last Wednesday. With her are Sole Administrator, RIWAMA, Mr Ade Adeogun (right) and Manager, Public and Government Affairs, BRT, Onne, Mobil Production, Mr Adeyemi FAkayejo (left). Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members  In Brass Water

Published

1 week ago

on

May 18, 2026

By

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways
The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and  members of his church were in a programme.
?
?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet  to be recovered
as search party are still ongoing.
Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report,  our Correspondent gathered  that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.
The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit
The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s  on the sad accident
By: CHINEDU WOSU
Continue Reading

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

1 week ago

on

May 18, 2026

By

The Rivers State Council of  Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.
Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt,  recently.
Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.
He noted that  the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.
According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.
He also  informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.
“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.
Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.
The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.
He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.
The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.
He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.
Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.
By: King Onunwor
Continue Reading

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 13, 2026

By

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.
 Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.
“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.
The minister noted  the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.
According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.
Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.
He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.
“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.
He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.
“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.
Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.
“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.
“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.
She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.
Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).
“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.
“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.
Continue Reading

Trending