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FG APPROVES DRAFT BILL FOR NATIONAL COCOA MANAGEMENT BOARD

The Federal Government has approved a draft bill for the establishment of the National Cocoa Management Board (NCMB) to revitalize and regulate Nigeria’s cocoa sub-sector for enhanced economic development. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. According to Kyari, the move is part of President Tinubu’s strategic plan to reposition Nigeria as a global cocoa powerhouse and ensure greater prosperity for local cocoa farmers. “The NCMB will be responsible for regulating all aspects of cocoa production and marketing,” Kyari said. The Minister’s disclosure highlights the government’s commitment to boosting the country’s cocoa industry and improving the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. With the establishment of the NCMB, the government aims to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of Nigeria’s cocoa sector, ultimately contributing to the country’s economic growth and development.

NIGERIA, BANGLADESH TO COLLABORATE ON AGRICULTURE, DEFENCE COOPERATION

The Honourable Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON, mni, has announced that Nigeria will share experiences with Bangladesh in defence, agriculture, and military cooperation. This bilateral cooperation aims to integrate military personnel into non-combat sectors like agriculture, construction, and infrastructure development. In a statement, the Honourable Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, emphasized that this cooperation will ensure military personnel remain engaged during peacetime, contributing to their personal economic prosperity and the nation’s development. Badaru further stated that the benefits of this military cooperation will lead to productive activities for military personnel to foster their skills and community development. The High Commissioner of Bangladesh, H.E. Mansur Rahman, expressed his support for the idea, highlighting the importance of military involvement in civilian sectors for sustainable development and economic stability. Rahman noted that defence cooperation can substantially develop Nigeria’s blue economy. The Ministry of Defence’s dedication to innovative strategies promoting military personnel welfare and Nigeria’s prosperity is underscored by this cooperation. The discussion took place during a courtesy visit by H.E. Mansur Rahman at Ship House, Abuja, highlighting the potential for cooperation between the two countries. Iyogun Sunday, Director Information and Public Relations, provided the information.

NIGERIA, BRAZIL SIGN $1.1BN GREEN IMPERATIVE PROJECT TO BOOST AGRICULTURE PRODUCTIVITY

Nigeria and Brazil have signed the commercial phase of the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project (GIP) to boost agriculture productivity and enhance private-sector investment in Nigeria. The project, which is the largest agricultural project in Africa, prioritizes the development of sustainable, low-carbon agriculture. Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, described the signing of the commercial phase of the GIP as part of ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to enhance food security in the country. “As this administration addresses the food security challenges we are facing and dovetails the 8-point agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is imperative for us to synergise and use existing initiatives such as the GIP for the purpose of policy continuity, for the purpose of utilising or leveraging on strategic opportunities to drive our economic growth and also to enhance investor confidence,” Shettima said. Shettima noted that the GIP will leverage on strategic opportunities to drive the nation’s economic growth and boost investor confidence. He also stated that the project aligns with all the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and will link small-scale farmers with all the agricultural value chains in the country. “We have been battling with low agricultural productivity for decades, and as I have always said, entrepreneurial capitalism is embedded in the very psyche of the average Nigerian, but what our people are lacking is the wherewithal to be placed on the first ladder of development,” he said. The Vice President gave credit to the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Foreign Affairs Minister, among others for the success of the project. Shettima also thanked the Brazilian government for their partnership, saying the project is a wonderful opportunity for Nigeria. In his remarks, the Ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria, Carlos Garcete, said it is a great honour for Brazil to associate with the Green Imperative Project. “Over the past seven years, there has been negotiation with the Nigerian government with a view to obtaining the necessary funds from private and regional development banks to finance this ambitious project, which is worth approximately $1.1 billion dollars,” Garcete said. Garcete noted that the project will allow for the importation of agricultural equipment such as tractors, spare parts, and assembling of machines will be done in Nigeria with Nigerian labour. He also stressed that in the event of breakdown of any tractor, it will be possible to carry out repairs in Nigeria by personnel trained by GIP. The Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Umar Namadi, expressed delight over the signing of the agreement, noting that agriculture plays an important role in the economy of the country. The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, said Benue State, being the food basket of the nation, is the happiest state among the subnationals to witness the signing of the agreement. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, said the exercise is a good example of the South-South Cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil. Attorney General of the Federation Minister of Justice, Hon. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, thanked Shettima and all the stakeholders who made the event successful.

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS DECRY INSUFFICIENT ALLOCATION TO AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN 2025 BUDGET

Civil society groups, including the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), the Community of Agriculture Non-State Actors (COANSA), and ActionAid Nigeria, have expressed dismay over the insufficient allocation to the agriculture sector in the 2025 budget proposal. At a press conference in Abuja, the groups noted that the allocation to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security declined by 36.19% from N996.901 billion in 2024 to N636.08 billion in the 2025 budget proposal. They also observed that the share of the total federal budget allocated to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has sharply declined from 2.84% in 2024 to a mere 1.28% in the 2025 proposed budget. The groups commended the President for proposing an additional budget of N1.5 trillion for the recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) but insisted that it be completed within the first quarter of 2025, as committed, and that the full N1.5 trillion be promptly released to guarantee its successful implementation. They recommended that the budget allocation to the FMAFS be increased, and that planning for the sector be anchored on the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP). The groups also called for increased allocation to the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and timely releases to support farmers. They further recommended that the federal ministry of livestock be adequately funded and that projects provided for in the budget be adequately conceptualized and framed to deliver on the overall objective of the Ministry.