NEC Endorses NASENI’s Solar Irrigation Pumps To Boost Food Security

*Seeks President Tinubu’s approval for mass production

*It’s a proof that Nigerian ingenuity can compete with the world – VP Shettima

By: Our Reporter

In a bid to boost food security in Nigeria, the National Economic Council (NEC) has endorsed solar-powered irrigation pumps produced by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for national rollout ahead of the 2025 dry season farming.

The NASENI solar irrigation pump, produced to replace the petrol-powered pump, is aimed at reinforcing the nation’s food security strategy, as it is expected to increase agricultural productivity, lower operational cost, higher incomes and improve livelihoods.

At its 152nd meeting held on Thursday at Presidential Villa, Abuja, NEC endorsed the use of the solar irrigation pump and resolved to adequately notify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his approval.

In anticipation of the President’s approval and the need to provide funding for NASENI, the Council also mandated the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, to work out modalities of funding to enable NASENI to mass produce the solar irrigation pumps and distribute in time for the 2025 dry season.

Chairman of the Council, Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the scaled-up solar irrigation pumps is an indication that Nigerians can compete at the global level with their creativity.

“We must also face the challenge of innovation in agriculture. NASENI’s scaled-up solar irrigation pumps are ready for national rollout ahead of the 2025 dry season. These pumps replace expensive petrol-powered systems, lower farmers’ costs, expand dry-season cultivation, and even provide backup power for households.

“Their advanced features, including GPS tracking, mobile app dashboards, usage monitoring, and pay-as-you-go integration, prove that Nigerian ingenuity can compete with the world,” he stated.

VP Shettima said the innovation by NASENI “will not only boost food security but also unlock carbon credit opportunities” for farmers across the country.

The Vice President hinted at other efforts by the Tinubu administration to ensure food security, saying recently, “250,000 farmers have been insured across eight states, the 30 percent Value Addition Bill is advancing, and the ₦250 billion Bank of Agriculture facility is being activated to reach smallholders.”

Based on updates from the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, VP Shettima said, “The Green Imperative Project with Brazil is being repositioned for financing, while the World Bank-backed AGROW programme is mapping priority value chains for roll-out.

“The Harvesting Hope Caravan has reached half a million citizens in eight states, building trust and grassroots mobilisation. These are lifelines to farmers and proof that NEC’s decisions resonate beyond these chambers.”

Below are highlights of the meeting:

TALKING POINTS:

NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL NEC (NEC) 152nd MEETING THURSDAY, 18TH SEPTEMBER, 2025

UPDATE ON ACCOUNT BALANCES AS AT 17th September, 2025

Excess Crude Account – $ 535,823.39

Stabilization Account – N83,495,784,133.24

Natural Resources Account – N125,818,396,257.41

PRESENTATION ON “THE 31ST NIGERIAN ECONOMIC SUMMIT – THE REFORM IMPERATIVE: BUILDING A PROSPEROUS AND INCLUSIVE NIGERIA BY 2030” BY CEO, NESG

The presentation was to brief the Council called to note the Global trends and risks regarding:
● Uneven Global Growth
● Divergent Inflation and Policy
● Geopolitical Tensions Rising
● Climate and Tech Shifts

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, KEY CHALLENGES FOR REFORM IN NIGERIA INCLUDES:

• Structural Bottlenecks: Energy and transport deficiencies inflate production costs. Foreign exchange liquidity crisis and over-reliance on oil weaken fiscal sustainability.
• Political Economy Risks: Political instability, frequent policy reversals, and corruption hinder long-term reform. Upcoming 2027 election may delay necessary actions.
• Global Systemic Pressure: Climate change, trade tensions, and capital flight strain the economy. Weak industrial base faces competitive pressures from AfCFTA.

NES #31 SUMMIT STRUCTURE & OBJECTIVES SUB THEMES

● Driving Industrialisation-led Growth
● Building Infrastructure for Competitiveness
● Unlocking Investment amid Global Shifts

One Nigeria, Many Markets: A Forum for Subnational competitiveness

• Nigeria’s economic transformation hinges on unlocking the potential of its diverse subnational markets.
• Enhancing state-level competitiveness, improving ease of doing business, and investing in infrastructure along key economic corridors will attract investment, foster regional productivity, and drive inclusive growth.
• A unified national vision must empower differentiated local economic strengths.

Resolution:

Council committed to actively participate in the forthcoming NESG Summit with the view to synergise ideas and mobilise support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

ANTICIPATORY ACTION FRAMEWORK FOR RIVERINE FLOODING IN NIGERIA BY MALLAM NUHU RIBADU NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER

Council was briefed by the NSA about the purpose of Nigeria’s Anticipatory Action Framework which outlined a proactive strategy to reduce the humanitarian and economic impacts of riverine flooding through early warning, targeted preparedness, and coordinated response.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ANTICIPATORY ACTION FRAMEWORK

● Protect vulnerable households, especially in 13 high-risk states.
● Enable timely and dignified interventions before flooding peaks.
● Institutionalize anticipatory action across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
● Focus on equity, ensuring no community is left behind.

ANTICIPATORY ACTION PLAN

● Prioritizes the use of Multipurpose Cash Assistance, with ₦24 billion earmarked for this purpose.
● Where necessary, support will also include evacuation sites and essential common services such as early warning systems, child protection, and Gender-Based Violence prevention.
● Early Warning. NEMA and NOA leads coordinated messaging to at-risk communities.
Council was also called to note that:
● 16 states have fully established Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMC), while 14 states have none, 4 have partial setups, and 3 rely solely on desk officers
● All high-risk states to establish functional LEMC and provide targeted training for community leaders to enhance preparedness and response at the grassroots level.
● Ensures real-time tracking, post-event reviews, and structured learning to improve accountability and effectiveness.
● Includes Monitoring the quality of early actions, conducting lessons-learned workshops, and refining protocols based on evidence.

RECOMMENDATIONS

State governors should:

a. Step down risk communication to vulnerable communities via state channels such as state broadcast, radio, town halls.

b. Strengthen SEMAs with funding, equipment, and training to lead effective responses.

All stakeholders should empower Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) to enhance community safety and resilience.

Resolution:

● Council commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for the work done as reflected in the presentation, describing the framework as comprehensive and visionary.

● Council directed the ONSA to widen the scope of the framework to include more states and submit final document for ratification at the next meeting of NEC.

REPORT ON MONTHLY COST OF PRODUCTION SURVEY AND IMPACT OF ENERGY COST ON FOOD PRODUCTION BY HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR OF JIGAWA STATE.

The Memo was presented to Council by Jigawa State Governor. The purpose was to share important information regarding the constraints affecting agricultural production and potential they have in exacerbating the fragile food security situation the federal government has tried to resolve for over two years.

Council was called to note that the information provided was presented last week at the Presidential Food System Coordinating Unit Steering Committee Meeting.

RECOMMENDATIONS

● Government should give equal emphasis to optimizing fertilizer cost, perhaps through the prioritization of the mandate given to the PFSCU to liberalize fertilizer regime.

● Make available smaller handheld implements for small scale and subsistent farmers who are invariably too low in the ladder to immediately benefit from the tractor programme.

The Memo also called on the Chairman of NEC, the Vice President, to respectfully remind the President of his directive during the special NEC meeting held in June 2024, where he ordered NASENI to ramp up production and also seek his approval to fund the production between 50,000 to 100,000 pumps for distribution to the states on needs basis.

Resolution:

● Council resolved to frontally tackle the challenges of high energy cost and fertilizer prices in the country

● Council directed the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas) to interface with stakeholders in the industry with the view to addressing high cost and availability of gas domestically and report back at next meeting of Council.

NEC Endorses NASENI’s Solar Irrigation Pumps To Boost Food Security