Agriculture
Experts Chide Residents On Embracing Urban Farming
A former Commissioner for Youth and Social Development in Lagos State, Mr Agboola Dabiri, has urged residents of the state to embrace urban farming.
Dabiri said this at an agriculture empowerment programme organised by members of Ajowa Community Development Association (CDA) in Surulere area of Lagos State, in collaboration with Africanfarmer Mogaji, recently in Lagos.
According to him, embracing urban farming will increase and better their livelihood. adding, the empowerment programme is titled: “Farm and Profit”.
In his lecture titled, “Global Farming without Boundaries”, Dabiri said residents must begin to create space for farming in homes, balconies, compounds and garages.
He said agriculture was a huge value chain that included production, processing, marketing, distribution, packaging and many more.
Dabiri urged the residents to develop a passion in any of the value chains to better their lots.
“I don’t know the last time I bought lemon in Abuja. What I did was, I planted seeds in an old sack and that is what I have been using in my home.
“In Masha, here in Surulere, we have the biggest fruit farmers in Lagos. They are very organised and you can also join them by simply identifying where you belong.
“Also, in Surulere, we have one of the largest ram market and I am a member, because I also rear animals.
“You have to look at where you belong and explore all the potential in agriculture. During the last Ileya festival, I sold rams and I made profits, you too can do that. Agric is very profitable.
“I buy my ram myself; rear it myself and give it to my boys to sell during festival. I have already started rearing ram against next festival.
“Residents of Surulere must come together and see how they can promote urban farming and contribute to the food self-sufficiency of the state”.
He commended the Chairman of Ajowa CDA, Mr Tunji Adebayo, for organising empowerment programmes for members of his association.
Also speaking, Mr Africanfarmer Mogaji urged the people at the local government level to embrace agriculture in order to feed the nation.
Mogaji, in his presentation titled ‘Farm and Profit’, urged people in the urban area to embrace agriculture by way of processing, marketing, distribution, packaging and production.
He said majority of people in the South-West zone were consumers of agricultural produce and not generating enough income from agriculture, because of lack of understanding.
“There are lots of opportunities in agriculture that remain untapped and people need to look beyond farming”, he said.
In his remarks, Mr Suleimon Bamidele, Chairman, Surulere Local Government Area, lauded the CDA and the council’s support for continuation of the programme.
Bamidele, who was represented by Mr Abayomi Ambali, Senior Special Adviser to the Chairman on Agriculture, noted that the council would continue to promote and support agricultural policies.
The President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, has called for urgent agricultural reforms and stronger support for farmers to improve food security in the country.
Uwaleke made the call in an interview with Newsmen Wednesday while reacting to the United Nations projection that millions of Nigerians could face acute hunger in the coming months.
The United Nations Humanitarian Country Team had warned that about 35 million Nigerians could face acute food insecurity between June and August.
According to the organisation, nearly one in seven Nigerians may experience severe food shortages during the 2026 lean season.
Uwaleke said the projection underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to strengthen its food production systems and address factors driving food insecurity.
“The warning should be taken seriously because it reflects the difficult realities many Nigerians are already experiencing, especially vulnerable households.
“A projection of about 35 million people facing acute hunger is disturbing for a country with enormous agricultural potential,” he said.
He attributed worsening food insecurity to inflation, insecurity in farming communities, climate-related challenges, naira depreciation and high transportation costs.
According to him, the combined effects of fuel subsidy removal and declining purchasing power have further reduced access to food for many Nigerians.
Uwaleke said the situation required immediate and coordinated interventions to prevent a deeper humanitarian crisis.
“The lean season is usually difficult, but the scale being projected by the United Nations suggests the need for urgent action from both government and development partners,” he said.
He acknowledged recent government measures aimed at improving food supply, including food imports and tariff reductions on selected commodities such as rice and palm oil.
He, however, said the interventions might not yield the desired results without stronger investments in local agricultural production and improved security for farmers.
“I believe the government has made efforts to address the situation, particularly through policies aimed at boosting food availability.
However, insecurity continues to disrupt farming activities in major food-producing areas, while inflation and weak purchasing power remain major concerns for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
Uwaleke urged the Federal Government to increase support for farmers through subsidies on fertilisers, improved seedlings and other agricultural inputs ahead of the peak farming season.
He also stressed the need to improve security in farming communities to enable displaced farmers to return safely to their farms.
According to him, targeted food distribution programmes should be expanded to support vulnerable households across the country
Uwaleke further called for long-term investments in irrigation, mechanisation, storage facilities, rural infrastructure and agricultural research to strengthen food security.
He added that food security should be treated as both an economic and national security priority requiring sustained policy implementation and adequate funding.
Agriculture
Livestock Minister Reaffirms Commitment To Integrating Apiculture Development Into NL-GAS
The Minister made this known in a keynote address at the World Bee Day 2026 celebration, held in Abuja, where he emphasised that the livestock value chain can be significantly transformed through targeted investments, innovation, private sector participation, youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, said the Ministry remains committed to strengthening interventions aimed at improving the apiculture subsector, promoting sustainable beekeeping practices, enhancing production standards, expanding market access, and protecting pollinator habitats across the country.
The Director of Ruminants and Monogastric, Mr. Victor Egbon, representshe also commended the Youth for Agriculture Initiative (YFAI) for its sustained partnership and commitment to the annual commemoration of World Bee Day.
In a goodwill message, the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Osas Isokponomu, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting policies and programmes that promote value addition, industrialisation, export competitiveness, and market integration within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Earlier in his opening address, the President of the Youth for Apiculture Initiative (YFAI), Mr. Kingsley Nwagwu, called for the establishment of a National Apiculture Policy as a foundation for unlocking Nigeria’s emerging apiculture economy.
Participants at the event were drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, stakeholders, students, academia, research institutions, and development partners.
According to a statement, President of the AFBTE, Chinedum Okereke, gave the warning during the association’s 47th Annual General Meeting held recently in Lagos.
He stated that the food and beverage industry remained a critical pillar of the Nigerian economy because of its significant contributions to employment, public health, and economic growth, adding that government policies should support the sector rather than weaken it.
Okereke noted that many companies in the industry are struggling with rising operational costs and multiple taxes and charges imposed by government agencies without adequate consultation.
“The food and beverage sector remains a major player in the Nigerian economy in terms of its criticality to the financial and physical health of the nation, as well as the well-being of the people. Government support is therefore imperative,” Okereke said.
He added that the relationship between government institutions and businesses should be driven by collaboration, dialogue, and fairness to create a sustainable business environment.
The AFBTE chief also renewed the association’s opposition to the proposed ban on the packaging and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small PET bottles, warning that the policy could worsen unemployment, reduce investment, and shrink government revenue.
“We are in the age of data and analytics Policies that affect businesses and livelihoods should be evidence-based,” Okereke said.
He noted that the industry had repeatedly demanded empirical evidence and statistical data to justify the proposed ban but claimed relevant authorities had yet to provide such information.
The AFBTE president further appealed to the Federal Government to introduce incentives and relief packages for manufacturers battling rising production costs, foreign exchange challenges and infrastructure deficits.
He also advocated the creation of more Free Trade Zones through the upgrade of existing industrial clusters, especially for long-established companies that have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic development but now face disadvantages compared to firms operating within free trade zones.
He observed that the absence of dialogue between the government and the private sector often creates avoidable disputes and weakens investor confidence.
Okereke added that the objectives of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council should remain a guiding principle for regulators and government agencies in promoting ease of doing business in the country.
Meanwhile, the Treasurer of AFBTE, Osaro Omogiade, disclosed that the association recorded a total income of N165.45m for the 2025 financial year, representing a 10.13 per cent increase from the N150.24m generated in 2024.
He attributed the increase largely to improved returns on investments in the money market through Stanbic IBTC and United Capital.
Omogiade, however, noted that the association’s expenditure rose by 14.22 per cent to N138.25m due to the increasing cost of running its secretariat, leaving a surplus of N27.21m compared to N29.19m recorded in the previous year.