The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has flagged off the distribution of subsidised fertiliser and agricultural equipment across its six area councils, in a move officials say will ease food insecurity and boost rural development.
At the ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, represented by his Chief of Staff, Chidi Amadi, stressed that the intervention was designed to lower farming costs, strengthen livelihoods, and empower young people to embrace agriculture as a pathway to prosperity.
Wike announced that 50 metric tonnes of fertiliser would be sold at 50 percent subsidised rates this farming season, warning that diversion or resale of the products would not be tolerated.
Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Suleiman Ango, disclosed that the Secretariat procured 15,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser, 3,500 knapsack sprayers, and other inputs for farmers’ cooperatives and associations, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Similarly, Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, unveiled the “Muje Puje” project, aimed at integrating women, youth, students, and households into food security programmes. She revealed the revival of a 9,000-square-metre farm in Puje, stressing that empowering women in agriculture was vital for sustainable national growth.
Traditional rulers were also present, urging rural communities to embrace farming and protect their farmlands. Analysts believe the scheme will help curb food inflation while reinforcing Wike’s political footprint in Abuja through agricultural, security, and infrastructure initiatives.
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