The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to stabilizing food prices across Nigeria by making farm inputs more affordable and improving community-based storage systems.

In an official statement, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, said the Ministry is implementing comprehensive measures in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to ensure lasting stability in the country’s food system.

“Our focus remains on making farm inputs such as fertilizers, improved seeds, and irrigation materials more affordable and accessible to farmers across the country,” the Minister said. “By reducing production costs and enhancing productivity, we aim to strengthen food supply chains and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.”

He noted that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is intensifying efforts to establish community-based silos and storage facilities in different parts of the country. According to him, these facilities will help minimize post-harvest losses and ensure the steady availability of staple foods all year round.

“These localized storage systems will empower farming communities to manage their harvests more efficiently and reduce dependency on external storage infrastructure,” Senator Kyari explained.

He added that the Ministry remains fully committed to ensuring that every intervention contributes directly to food security, economic stability, and job creation.

“This includes deeper collaboration with state governments, the private sector, and farmer associations to align efforts toward increased productivity and market efficiency,” he stated.

The Minister further highlighted that the Ministry is advancing initiatives in agricultural mechanization, rural infrastructure, and private sector engagement to make farming more attractive, profitable, and sustainable for Nigerians.

The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural sector through new policies aimed at promoting food security, job creation, and economic diversification.

Speaking at a one-day public hearing on three key agricultural bills—the Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion in Flours Production) Bill, the National Food Reserves Agency Bill, and the Rice Development Council of Nigeria Bill—the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, GCFR, represented by Senator Tahir Monguno, said the proposed programs are designed to boost productivity, deepen value addition, and promote sustainable development in the sector.

“The 10th Senate is deeply committed to ensuring food security and job creation. We invite producers, millers, and bakers to leverage these opportunities to produce more and contribute to the nation’s food sufficiency,” Senator Monguno stated.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha, explained that the bills aim to harness Nigeria’s abundance of cassava to create jobs, strengthen smallholder farmers, and stabilize rice prices. He said the initiatives would also help diversify the economy and create sustainable markets for local produce.

In his presentation, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, noted that the Cassava Flour Production Bill will significantly enhance Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. He described cassava as one of the country’s most commercially viable crops with great potential for export and industrial use.

“Cassava has the highest production capacity among our crops. That is why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, envisions Nigeria producing over fifty million tonnes of cassava annually,” the Minister said.

He assured stakeholders that the Ministry remains committed to empowering local farmers, improving productivity, and strengthening institutional frameworks to achieve lasting food security across the country. Kyari emphasized that with the right support, Nigeria could reduce its dependence on food imports and build stronger agricultural value chains that support jobs and rural development.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus O. Ogunbiyi, stressed the importance of policy alignment and institutional efficiency. He noted that the proposed National Food Reserve Agency (NAFRA) should complement the Ministry’s existing functions rather than duplicate them. According to him, “Strengthening current systems before creating new ones is vital to ensuring sustainable results.”

Stakeholders at the hearing expressed broad support for the bills and called for inclusive implementation that addresses the needs of all categories of farmers. Hajiya Maryam Lawan, representing the Women Farmers Association of Nigeria (WOFAN), urged lawmakers to prioritize greater participation of women in agricultural programs and decision-making processes.

Mustapha Othman Bakano, President of the Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria, said the legislation would create employment opportunities across the country’s 774 local government areas. He revealed that the association has already secured farmland nationwide to expand cassava cultivation and reduce dependence on imported wheat for flour production.

Similarly, Aliyu Mustapha, President of the Onion Farmers Association of Nigeria, appealed for the speedy passage of the bills, noting that they would help farmers improve production capacity and develop better storage systems for perishable crops.

Senator Mustapha assured participants that all contributions would be reviewed before the next legislative stage. He reiterated the Senate’s resolve to ensure that the final versions of the bills reflect the collective aspirations of Nigeria’s agricultural community.

“These bills represent a national effort to strengthen our food systems, empower farmers, and position agriculture as the backbone of our economy,” he said.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has announced that the federal government has secured about N700 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to deploy 1.1 million electricity meters nationwide by the end of 2025.

Mr Adelabu disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos during the 2025 Nigerian Energy Forum (NEF), themed “Powering Nigeria through Investment, Innovation, and Partnership.” He explained that after the initial deployment, the government would roll out two million meters annually for the next five years under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).

According to him, the initiative is designed to close Nigeria’s metering gap, improve transparency in billing, and strengthen the financial stability of the power sector. He noted that the PMI complements the 3.2 million meters currently being procured through the World Bank’s Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), positioning Nigeria to bridge the metering gap within five years.

The minister stated that the federal government is also leveraging bilateral funding and development finance to attract private investment and expand electricity access in underserved areas, including schools, hospitals, and public institutions.

“In the past two years, more than $2 billion has been mobilised through key programmes, including the World Bank’s DARES, NSIA’s RIPLE, and the JICA fund,” Adelabu said. “These interventions are accelerating renewable energy deployment and access to reliable power.”

He further revealed that new training infrastructure had been commissioned at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) to build technical capacity within the sector. Agreements signed at the 2025 Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum, he said, would add nearly four gigawatts of solar manufacturing capacity annually, representing about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s current generation capacity.

“With this level of renewable energy production, Nigeria is on track to meet its domestic transition targets and serve regional power markets,” the minister said.

Adelabu added that the Electricity Act 2023 had transformed the energy sector by allowing states to establish their own subnational electricity markets. “Fifteen states have received regulatory autonomy, with one fully operational. We’re ensuring alignment between wholesale and retail markets,” he noted.

He maintained that ongoing tariff reforms had improved electricity supply reliability, reduced industrial energy costs, and boosted sector revenue from N1 trillion in 2023 to N1.7 trillion in 2024, with projections to exceed N2 trillion by 2025.

The minister also confirmed that President Bola Tinubu had approved a N4 trillion bond to settle verified debts owed to generation companies and gas suppliers, alongside a targeted subsidy plan to protect vulnerable consumers.

Mr Adelabu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnering with the private sector to unlock stranded generation capacity and build a sustainable power future. “Through sustained investment, innovation, and strong partnerships, we can power Nigeria’s journey toward a brighter, more resilient energy future,” he said.