The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has started giving and selling different types of fertilisers to farmers in all six Area Councils at half the normal price. This is to help farmers lower their costs and improve food production in the area.
The programme was officially launched in Abuja by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. He was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Chidi Amadi.
During the event, Wike told farmers to use the fertilisers on their farms and not to sell them.
He said, “Don’t sell the fertilisers. Their real value comes from the crops they help grow and the lives they support. Let’s all work together to grow more food, improve lives, and build a strong farming future for the FCT and Nigeria.”
Wike explained that this programme shows the government cares about food security and wants to support farming and improve the well-being of people in the FCT.
He said the timing of this distribution is perfect because it matches the current farming season. This will help farmers grow more crops at lower costs. He also said strong steps are being taken to make sure only real farmers get the fertilisers and that they are not misused.
He also mentioned that the FCTA is working with well-known international organisations like the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Leventis Foundation, and some development banks. These groups are helping farmers learn better farming methods and build skills.
Wike asked traditional rulers to support farming in their communities and help keep rural areas safe and secure.
He also encouraged young people to see farming as a good way to earn a living, instead of only looking for office jobs.
He said, “This programme shows our strong commitment to making sure people have enough food, improving farming, and caring for our citizens. As the FAO has said, when people don’t have food, it affects their dignity, peace, and stability.”
He added that the government’s increased security efforts are already helping communities feel safer and making it easier for farming and investment to grow.
At the event, Abdullahi Ango, the Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, said they had bought 550 metric tonnes of different fertilisers (like NPK, urea, and fertiliser gels). They also bought 3,500 knapsack sprayers, all at subsidised prices for farmers.
Ango promised that the fertilisers and sprayers would be carefully tracked to make sure they go only to real farmers doing proper farming.
Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs, praised the programme, especially for including women farmers. She talked about the MUJE PUJE project, which gives new hope by helping women, youth, students, and families see farming as a good way to earn money and feed communities.
Traditional rulers and other important people from around the FCT also came to the event to show their support.
