The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the procurement of 2,000 tractors, 4,000 disc ploughs, 1,200 tractor trailers, and other equipment under the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (NAMP) to enhance food security in Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy announced the decision, stating that DMCC firm will supply the equipment and establish assembly plants in Nigeria.
The approval aligns with the federal government’s recent initiatives to address the country’s food security crisis, including suspending import duties on certain food items for 150 days and importing 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and maize.
The government plans to engage stakeholders to establish a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) for commodities and boost production, particularly among smallholder farmers, for the 2024/2025 farming season.
Nigeria is facing severe food inflation, with staple food prices doubling in the past year and a projected 31 million Nigerians potentially facing severe food shortages by August. In response, the government announced a plan to distribute N50,000 to 100,000 households and purchase food items worth N155 billion for nationwide distribution.
President Tinubu urged state governors to address their states’ food security needs effectively.
(CHANNELS)