The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched the distribution and sale of fertilizers to farmers across the country at half the market price, in an effort to tackle food insecurity.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Thursday, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Chidi Amadi, described the move as a decisive step by the Federal Government to promote food self-sufficiency. He urged farmers not to resell the inputs, stressing that their true value lay in the improved harvests and livelihoods they would support.
Wike said the exercise was deliberately timed to align with the farming season, thereby cutting production costs and boosting yields. He added that mechanisms had been put in place to prevent diversion and ensure that only genuine, certified farmers benefit.
The minister highlighted ongoing collaborations with international partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), focused on building local farmers’ capacity. He also encouraged youths to see agriculture as a viable path to prosperity rather than relying solely on white-collar jobs.
Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Abdullahi Ango, disclosed that the Secretariat had procured 550 metric tonnes of fertiliser comprising NPK, urea, fertiliser gels and 3,500 knapsack sprayers, all to be distributed at subsidised rates. He said strict monitoring would ensure the items were used only for cultivation by certified farmers.
Mandate Secretary of Women Affairs, Dr. Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, praised the programme’s gender-inclusive approach, particularly its support for women farmers. She noted the MUJE PUJE Project, a flagship food security initiative under the Renewed Hope agenda, which aims to empower women, youth, students, and households through agriculture.
Traditional rulers and stakeholders from across the FCT attended the event.
