Business
Society Seeks 2m Hectares Of Land For Wheat Cultivation
The National President, Agricultural Society of Nigeria, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar, has advocated allocation of more land for wheat cultivation in the potential growth areas.
Abubakar told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja that growing enough wheat for consumption would reduce the current import rate.
“The wheat production area for Nigeria today is less than 200 hectares but Nigeria has the potential for more than two million hectares.
“These states where wheat can be comfortably grown actually lie between latitude 10 to 14 degrees North, ranging from Kaduna to Borno to Yobe.
“With this vast land, we have no justification to say that Nigeria cannot feed itself and concerted efforts really have to be put into ensuring that we use all.
“If we can utilise 2 million hectares and with our average production of about four tonnes per hectare, we are going to get 8 million tonnes and our current requirement is 4 million tonnes.
“That means we can produce double of what we require and the surplus we export.”
He listed the states with potential for wheat cultivation to include Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa and Borno.
Others for rain-fed wheat cultivation include Taraba, Plateau and Cross River states.
As at 2010, Nigeria was said to have spent 4 billion US dollars (approximately N635 billion) annually on wheat importation alone.
The consumption of wheat in Nigeria, especially for bread and other confectioneries is nearly 3.7 million metric tonnes annually.
Now, less than 100,000 metric tonnes of wheat is cultivated annually in the country.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.