- Johnson stated that the grants align with Tinubu’s broader efforts to empower small-holder farmers and enhance agricultural development across the country
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has approved multi-billion naira grants for two federal universities of agriculture, a move aimed at boosting food production and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on food imports.
The announcement was made over the weekend by Doyin Johnson, a governing council member of the Federal University of Agriculture, Bayelsa State.
Speaking at an event in Lagos, Johnson stated that the grants align with Tinubu’s broader efforts to empower small-holder farmers and enhance agricultural development across the country.
He revealed that the Federal University of Agriculture, Bayelsa, and the Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, have each been allocated ₦2.64 billion. Additionally, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has been granted ₦7 billion for farming initiatives.
The funding is part of Tinubu’s strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector and stabilise food prices. Johnson suggested that increased local food production could lower market costs, citing the price of rice as an example.
Beyond agriculture, he highlighted other policy moves by the administration, including the removal of the fuel subsidy, which he described as a necessary step despite opposition from powerful interests. He also noted government efforts to regulate mining activities, stating that illegal extraction of gold and other minerals had been halted.
The Tinubu government has also introduced a student loan scheme, which Johnson described as the first of its kind in Nigeria’s history.
The agricultural grants are expected to enhance research and production capacity in Nigeria’s agricultural universities, contributing to long-term food security.
Discussion about this post