BY GODWIN OBI
Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to fast-track the release of the Federal Government’s ₦250 billion credit facility for smallholder farmers, at a single-digit interest rate. Speaking at the sixth meeting of the PFSCU Steering Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima insisted that the funds must not be trapped in bureaucracy, stressing the need for a clear implementation roadmap to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit. > “On the Bank of Agriculture’s ₦250 billion facility, we must sit with all stakeholders and map out a robust plan that guarantees the money gets to real farmers and translates into tangible productivity gains,” the Vice President declared. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for backing major agricultural reforms, including fertiliser raw material liberalisation and the Presidential Seed Fund, noting that these initiatives are already strengthening the nation’s food systems. Governors Demand Action At the meeting, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji stressed the need for strong structures to prevent diversion of the funds. Governors Umar Namadi (Jigawa) and Bassey Otu (Cross River) further appealed for subsidies to cushion farmers from rising production costs. Nigeria’s Food Security at Stake PFSCU Coordinator, Marion Moon, warned that with over 30.8 million Nigerians still food insecure, timely disbursement of the fund was critical. She highlighted progress made since April, including: 250,000 farmers insured under the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM), Launch of the Harvesting Hope Caravan across eight states, Approval of a ₦50 billion seed fund, and Ongoing execution of the World Bank–supported $500 million AGROW programme. Shettima, while urging greater stakeholder collaboration, also pushed for revitalising the seed sector and expanding the Strategic Grain Reserve, calling the ₦250 billion lifeline a turning point for Nigeria’s fight against hunger and agricultural underperformance.
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