The administration of President Bola Tinubu has begun a nationwide farmers’ data audit and registry. The goal is to remove “briefcase farmers”—individuals who fraudulently benefit from agricultural programs without contributing to food production.
According to government sources, this registry will be backed by a digital system that will ensure only genuine farmers receive support. “We are moving away from manual and corrupt systems. With this registry, only real farmers will benefit,” a senior official stated.
The audit is part of broader efforts to tackle food shortages and improve transparency in the distribution of agricultural interventions. High-level corruption in this area has long been blamed for inefficiency and waste, leading to high food prices and low productivity.
In addition, the government has finalized plans to set up cattle breeding centres across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. These centres will be managed by the new federal ministry of livestock development. The centres aim to reduce clashes between farmers and herders while boosting the livestock value chain.
“Our goal is to make agriculture a major driver of Nigeria’s economy,” a government spokesperson explained. “We are investing heavily in infrastructure and support systems.”
The government’s plan also includes the ongoing mechanization program, which aims to deliver 10,000 tractors in five years. So far, 2,000 tractors and other farming equipment have arrived.
Other projects include the Special Agro Processing Zones supported by the African Development Bank and the Agropocket initiative, which has led to the cultivation of over 133,000 hectares of wheat in Northern Nigeria.
