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Addressing Food Sustainability in Nigeria Through Women Farmers

Addressing Food Sustainability in Nigeria Through Women Farmers
By: Victor Emejuiwe
As Nigeria grapples with the food shortage across the country, it is now time to re-think the pivotal role of women in promoting food sustainability in Nigeria. Women are natural beings with an innate potential to conceive, deliver and nurture. This potential is not restrictive to biological cycle of life but it extends to all spheres of life including political, social and economic life.
In almost all communities in Nigeria, women constitute a major percentage of active farmers. Women in rural communities have been able to combine strength, zeal and dexterity in production of farm inputs that contributes to the survival and sustainability of the Homefront. Most times the women generate income from the produce of their farms by actively engaging in market days trading activities. It is however worrisome that despite the huge population of women farmers in Nigeria, their impact for the economic sustainability of Nigeria through food production is yet to be felt.
A lot of factors have contributed to stifling the potentials of women in sustainable food production in Nigeria. Some of those factors are both social, cultural, economic and political. In specific terms, the land ownership system in Nigeria does not really favor the female gender, as most families bequeath inheritance of landed property to male rather than women. As a result of this most women are given portions of land to farm out of benevolent gestures other than as a right of ownership.
This scenario has limited women farmers to become just subsistent farmers. Other factors limiting women farmers in Nigeria can also be traced to lack of support from government. Women has limited access to resources compared to their male folks and this makes it difficult for them to compete in the Agric-business economy.
The lack of resources serves as a limitation to accessing modern farm tools that would enable them go into large scale production, where-as these tools can be made easily available through loans to their male counterparts. There is also the dearth of knowledge on large scale farming amongst women farmers and this have restrained them to subsistent farming. Another inhibiting factor, is the cultural limitations that confines women with reproductive and domestic roles. This is even worse when there is lack of support from the home front to balance the economic outputs of women vis-à-vis their reproductive functions coupled with their domestic responsibilities. This calls for serious attention.
To address some of the limitations highlighted above, there is need to review the provision of some existing policies that support women contribution to food sustainability. The national policy on Agriculture aims at attaining self-sustainable growth in all the sub-sectors of agriculture and the structural transformation necessary for the overall socio-economic development of the country as well as the improvement in the quality of life of Nigerians.
To achieve this policy the female gender must be strategically empowered to contribute to food sustainability in Nigeria. This is also in line with the goal of the national policy on Gender in Agriculture. The agriculture gender policy is to promote and ensure the adoption of gender sensitive and responsive approaches towards engendering plans and programmes in such a way that men and women have access to and control of productive resources and facilities to bridge gender gaps. The policy document will enhance the platform to build an agri-business ecosystem to meet both domestic and foreign demands to achieve food security and accelerated development.
There is no other better time to implement these policies than now! Therefore, in line with the strategies contained in these policies, the government should take the following practical steps. First and fir most, it should collaborate with stakeholders to identify the gender limiting factors restraining women from participating in large scale farming and set-up a mechanism to mainstream gender equality in Agri-business. Secondly, through an inter-sectoral collaboration, government should allocate resources across sectors that would render support to women in agriculture.
Thirdly, there is need to implement gender sensitive laws, policies and regulations as well as build the capacity of stakeholders to abide by the guiding principles that provides for equitable access to women farmers.
Fourthly, for women to be involved in large scale production and commercial agriculture, women farmers should be granted subsidies on agricultural products. In essence modern farming tools for mechanized farming should be provided at subsidized rates to women farmers. Fifthly, the federal and state government should provide soft loans with low interest rates and favorable re-payment plans to women in agriculture this would enable them get easy access to resources
Finally, to achieve the above, women farmers association should be mainstreamed in every policy decisions of government, they should be given the opportunity to contribute to government policies, actions and implementations. All these and more would contribute immensely to achieve food sustainability in Nigeria
Victor Emejuiwe
Monitoring & Evaluation /Strategic Communication Manager
Writes from Centre for Social Justice, Abuja
08068262366
Addressing Food Sustainability in Nigeria Through Women Farmers
News
Police foil bandits’ attack, recover AK-47 rifle in Abuja

Police foil bandits’ attack, recover AK-47 rifle in Abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have foiled an attempted kidnapping by a notorious bandit gang and recovered an AK-47 rifle and ammunition during a midnight operation in the outskirts of the territory.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the operation followed credible intelligence from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) of the Force Headquarters about a planned attack led by a gang leader identified as Idrisa, also known as Mai Duna.
Acting swiftly, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit laid an ambush between 9 p.m. on Oct. 10 and 1 a.m. on Oct. 11 along the rail track near Grow Home Estate, a location bordering the FCT and Niger State.
The armed gang, divided into two groups targeting Grow Home Estate and Royal Champion Church in Chikakore, Byazhin District, was intercepted by the police team.
A fierce gun duel ensued, lasting about 20 minutes, after which the bandits were subdued, forcing many to flee with suspected gunshot wounds.
During the search of the area, police recovered an AK-47 rifle with a defaced breech number, one magazine, and a live round of 7.62mm ammunition.
Reinforcement from the military, DSS, and local hunters was deployed to the area to secure the communities and block escape routes.
Sources said that the Commissioner of Police assured residents of continued security presence and renewed commitment to maintaining peace and safety in the FCT.
The Anti-Kidnapping Unit has commenced further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Police foil bandits’ attack, recover AK-47 rifle in Abuja
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Police arrest mentally unstable woman for killing IDP in Monguno

Police arrest mentally unstable woman for killing IDP in Monguno
By: Zagazola Makama
The Borno State Police Command has arrested a mentally unstable woman for allegedly killing a fellow internally displaced person (IDP) in Monguno Local Government Area of the state.
Sources said that on Oct. 10, 2025, at about 4:35 p.m., one Modu Kolomi of RRR IDPs Camp reported that a woman identified as Yagana Zara, aged 40, of the Water Board IDPs Camp, attacked his wife, Yagana Abba Butu, aged 30, with a wooden stirrer.
The suspect, said to be mentally challenged, allegedly beat the victim severely, resulting in fatal internal injuries.
Security forces Monguno promptly visited the scene, rescued the suspect from mob action, and evacuated the victim to the General Hospital, Monguno, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.
The body was deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy and later released to the family for burial according to Islamic rites.
According to sources, the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Maiduguri, has commenced investigation, while the suspect has been taken to a state psychiatric facility for mental evaluation.
End
News
Troops rescue three kidnapped victims, sustain offensive against bandits in Kwara

Troops rescue three kidnapped victims, sustain offensive against bandits in Kwara
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 2 Division/Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued three kidnapped victims during sustained operations against bandits in parts of Kwara State.
The operation, conducted on Saturday, Oct. 11, followed credible intelligence that led troops deployed at the Patrol Base Babanla to a suspected bandit hideout within the Babanla Forest.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops rescued Mrs. Oluwabusayo Taiwo, 25, and her three-year-old son, Taiwo Irayomide, who were abducted at Oke-Ode on Sept. 28.
The victims, who were found in stable condition, are receiving first aid treatment at the Patrol Base sick bay and are expected to be reunited with their family members soon.
In a separate operation, troops on routine patrol along a suspected bandit route also rescued a local tea seller, Mr. Mohammadu Sani, popularly known as Mai Shayi, aged 40, from Garkarima community.
According to the sources l, the bandits fled upon sighting the patrol team, abandoning the victim, who was found in a pool of blood. Troops recovered one dane gun and a cutlass from the scene.
Sani is currently receiving medical attention at the Patrol Base sick bay.
The Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ezra Barkins, commended the troops for their swift response and professionalism.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to the safety and security of citizens, pledging that troops would continue to intensify operations aimed at restoring peace and stability across Kwara State and its environs.
Troops rescue three kidnapped victims, sustain offensive against bandits in Kwara
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