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By Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government has flagged off the distribution of free agricultural inputs to farmers as part of efforts to boost food production, improve farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen national food security.
The initiative, driven by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), was officially launched on Thursday, in Agege, Lagos, where government officials, farmer groups and development partners gathered for the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the programme was designed to enhance agricultural productivity, support year-round farming and help the country move closer to food sovereignty.
Kyari, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, described the intervention as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening food production across the country.
“It underscores our collective commitment to strengthening food production. Today’s distribution of critical farm inputs, improved seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, and other essential materials,” he said.
According to him, the programme forms part of a broader intervention aimed at reducing production costs and improving the welfare of farmers.
“It is part of the Federal Government’s broader intervention programme aimed at reducing production costs, boosting yields, and improving the livelihoods of farmers. We recognize that farmers are the backbone of our food system. Without empowering them, food security will remain an aspiration rather than a reality,” Kyari said.
He noted that the partnership between the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government demonstrated the importance of collaboration in achieving national food security goals.
“Lagos State plays a unique role in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and goes beyond being a major consumption hub to a model for urban agriculture, aquaculture, poultry, vegetable production, and agribusiness innovation,” he said.
Kyari noted that the ministry considers food security a matter of national security, adding that several targeted interventions are currently being implemented to support farmers across Nigeria’s agro-ecological zones.
These interventions, he said, include input support schemes, mechanisation services, climate-smart agriculture initiatives and capacity-building programmes designed to improve resilience and increase productivity.
While highlighting the importance of the initiative, the minister stressed that distributing inputs alone would not guarantee food sufficiency unless farmers make proper use of them.
He called for transparent distribution processes, responsible usage by genuine farmers and strong monitoring mechanisms to measure the impact of the programme.
Kyari assured farmers that the government would continue to expand support through improved extension services, irrigation development, dry-season farming programmes and access to better seed varieties.
He also encouraged young Nigerians to embrace agriculture as a profitable venture.
Addressing the beneficiaries directly, he urged them to maximise the opportunity provided by the intervention.
“Let them translate into increased output, improved incomes, and greater food availability for our people,” he said.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the sector, Kyari added: “To our farmers here today: you are not alone. The Federal Government stands firmly with you. Your labour feeds the nation. Your resilience sustains our economy. Your success is Nigeria’s success.”
He also commended the Lagos State Government for its continued investment in agriculture, noting that strong collaboration between federal and state institutions remains critical to achieving food security.
“Let this moment mark the beginning of renewed productivity, enhanced collaboration, and shared prosperity. Together, we will build a food-secure Nigeria — a nation where every citizen has access to affordable, nutritious, and sufficient food,” he said.
In her remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said the initiative aligns with the agricultural policies of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration aimed at strengthening food security and improving farmers’ livelihoods in the state.
Olusanya, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the state ministry, Mr. Audu Emmanuel Fatai, assured that farmers in the state would utilise the inputs responsibly to boost food production.