BORGU TIMES

Remi Tinubu flags off 2026 farming season, distributes tractors, fertiliser to Niger farmers

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday flagged off the 2026 farming season in Niger State with the distribution of mechanisation support equipment and farm inputs to farmers across the state’s 25 local government areas.

The flag-off ceremony, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna, attracted top government officials, ministers, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), members of the Niger State Executive Council and key stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

Items unveiled at the event included 250 tractors, 50 combine harvesters, 150,000 bags of fertiliser, 1,500 planters, ploughs, boom sprayers and harrows.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Tinubu commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for prioritising agriculture, describing Niger as one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural hubs. She said the governor’s approach had further proven that agriculture remains a viable path to prosperity, job creation and sustainable development.

According to her, the intervention was a strong signal of Nigeria’s readiness to feed itself and a deliberate shift from subsistence farming to mechanised and commercially driven agriculture.

“This gesture will empower farmers with the tools needed to increase productivity, enhance livelihoods and strengthen the Gross Domestic Product of the country,” she said.

The First Lady added that the Niger State initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that food availability and affordability remain national priorities. She urged farmers to utilise the equipment effectively and embrace modern farming methods to maximise productivity in the new season.

In his remarks, Governor Bago said his administration’s investment in agriculture is targeted at supporting farming activities on 120,000 hectares of land across the state, creating about 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, and producing an estimated 500,000 tons of assorted food products per farming season during both wet and dry cycles.

He noted that the distribution of the equipment and inputs would strengthen the entire agricultural value chain beyond Niger State, adding that his government would expand irrigation facilities to allow multiple cycles of production yearly.

The governor also said modalities would be developed for off-taking farm produce to address post-harvest losses, urging farmers and stakeholders to partner with Niger Food Security and Logistics Limited, a state-owned enterprise, to achieve set targets.

Governor Bago appealed to the First Lady to sustain support for Niger State by facilitating more agricultural investments, citing the state’s untapped agricultural potential.

Also speaking at the event, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, applauded the initiative, saying Niger State is positioned to become a hub for food security, especially with the proposed completion of the Sokoto-Badagry coastal superhighway project.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, described agriculture as critical to Nigeria’s economy, adding that the Federal Government is exploring more measures to ensure the sector continues to contribute significantly to national GDP growth.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the Federal Government is strengthening partnerships with states and stakeholders to boost food production, noting that Niger State, with Nigeria’s largest arable land, is playing a leading role in driving agricultural productivity.

Chairman of Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics, Mr. Sammy Adigun, said the state’s vast natural resources position it for agricultural expansion, adding that Niger Foods is collaborating with partners to cultivate more land through mechanisation.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Isah Sidi Rijau, said the intervention aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s food security drive, assuring that Niger State would continue to complement national efforts to achieve food sovereignty.

The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Abubakar Usman, described the flag-off as a major milestone in the state’s mechanisation programme, reflecting the administration’s resolve to modernise farming and empower farmers.

In a goodwill message, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar, represented by the Emir of Agaie, Yusuf Nuhu, described the intervention as remarkable, saying it would help address food insecurity.

Nigerian Army Clarifies Arrest of Social Media Influencer, Justice Mark

The Nigerian Army has clarified the circumstances surrounding the arrest of a blogger and social media influencer, Justice Mark Chidiebere, popularly known as Justice Crack, following an online post allegedly linked to soldiers’ complaints about their welfare.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, the Army said it became aware of a social media post in which some soldiers raised concerns about their feeding and other welfare-related issues through the influencer.

According to the Army, the matter is currently under investigation for an alleged breach of the Armed Forces’ Social Media Policy and an attempt to misinform the public.

Col. Anele stated that preliminary findings indicated that the soldiers held extensive discussions with Chidiebere, adding that the influencer appeared to have been encouraging actions capable of creating discontent within the military system.

The Army cited an example of a chat exchange involving issues it described as bordering on subversion, warning that any situation where civilians allegedly cultivate vulnerable military personnel towards acts of subversion could pose serious threats to discipline and national security.

“As a result, Justice Chidiebere was picked up by the Nigerian Army alongside the soldiers for investigation,” the statement said.

The Army explained that while the soldiers involved are being held in military custody, Chidiebere has been handed over to relevant civil authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Army also reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, noting that it would continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure justice is served.

It added that it remains determined to act within legal boundaries in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty.