The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the distribution of assorted fertilisers to farmers across the six area councils at half the market price, in a move aimed at boosting food production and supporting livelihoods.
Flagging off the exercise in Abuja, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Chidi Amadi, urged farmers to put the inputs to proper use.
“Do not resell them. Their true value lies in the harvest they will yield and the livelihoods they will sustain. Together, let us commit to food self-sufficiency, improved livelihoods, and a vibrant agricultural future for the FCT and the nation,” Wike said.
He explained that the intervention demonstrates government’s commitment to food security and agricultural revitalisation, noting that the timing of the exercise was deliberate to align with the farming season and reduce production costs.
The Minister further assured that strict monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure only genuine farmers benefit and to prevent diversion.
Mandate Secretary of the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, Comrade Abdullahi Ango, disclosed that 550 metric tonnes of assorted fertilisers, including NPK, urea and fertiliser gels, as well as 3,500 knapsack sprayers, were procured for distribution at subsidised rates.
He stressed that the items would be monitored closely to ensure they are used strictly for cultivation.
Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary of Women Affairs, Dr. Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, commended the initiative’s gender-inclusive approach, highlighting the MUJE PUJE project—a renewed hope food security programme—designed to empower women, youth, students and households through agriculture.
Traditional rulers and other stakeholders attended the launch, with the Minister appealing to beneficiaries, especially youths, to embrace farming as a path to prosperity instead of relying solely on white-collar jobs.
“Our enhanced security efforts are restoring confidence in rural communities, creating a safe environment for agriculture and investment,” Wike added.
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