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Women Farmers Say Nigeria Faces Severe Hunger with Proposed Budget to AgricultureAdvocate for 10% of Budget to Agriculture

Women Farmers Say Nigeria Faces Severe Hunger with Proposed Budget to Agriculture
Advocate for 10% of Budget to Agriculture
By: Michael Mike
The women under the umbrella body of Small-scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) have called for an upgrade in the proposed budget for agriculture, noting amount proposed for 2025 recorded a decline of 36.19% from N996.901 billion in 2024 to N633 billion.
They noted that it may further drive the country into hunger and a let off from President Bola Tinubu’s promise to alleviate poverty and hunger in the country.
The group which briefed alongside the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), a non-state actor, noted that the country is currently in a precarious situation that needs great investment rather than reduction.
The groups therefore urged President Bola Tinubu to address what they called insufficient allocation to the agricultural sector to address food security and hunger in the land.
They argued that the current proposed budget represented 1.28 percent of the entire proposed over N53 trillion budget.
They said the 2025 budget proposal for the sector therefore represents 36.19% decline. The sector got 2.84% allocation in the 2024 budget with N996.901 billion.
The group stressed that: “You can’t be increasing the national budget and also be reducing the agricultural budget. And we are clamouring for security in the sector.
The government should give more money to agriculture to support farmers, especially women and small-scale farmers. The government should also plan better to make sure that the agricultural sector plans are aligned with the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy.”
They urged that the government should declare a state of emergency in the agricultural sector, stressing that every government pronouncement or policy pronouncement also has economic implications.
They said: “We are calling on the government to declare a state of emergency and also that the allocation for the sector is poor.
“We are trying to draw their attention. We are not trying to put the blame on anybody but the necessary departments that are working on the budget should be able to draw the attention of the Federal Government and say that the allocation for this sector on key farmers that are practising in the field is unacceptable. And that is why we are here to say let them look at it the second time before they do the final passing, which there is still room for that.”
They called for 10% of the budget to be set aside for agriculture. “These are what we are advocating for in accordance with the Maputo declaration.
“So, against the 10%, we are not even moving close. We are moving far away from the 10% allocation that we want the president to even start, not to even talk about more.”
The group made the following demands from the government for the country to be able to address food insecurity and hunger in the country.
“ There is a need to increase the budget allocation to the FMAFS in the 2025 budget of the federal government of Nigeria. This is necessary as funding gaps were observed in critical areas of investment, ranging from extension services and access to farm inputs to investment in smallholder women farmers, as well as in addressing the various aspects of climate change and agroecology that are affecting the optimal performance of the agricultural sector. The need for enhanced funding is also necessitated by the 1.28% of the total federal government budget committed to the sector against the 10% that is recommended by the Maputo Declaration. This will enhance the capacity of the ministry to coordinate and support actions to attain food and nutrition security in Nigeria. Engagement with subnational governments in this direction to shore up their funding efforts will also be essential.
“Whereas every programme and project of the FMAFS should feed into the implementation of the NATIP, evidence from the projects and programme provided for in the 2025 budget proposal of the ministry shows only 34% alignment in this direction.
“There is a need for the FMAFS to ensure that planning for the sector is anchored on the NATIP policy. This will ensure a strong plan-budget link that will deliver on the overall goal for the sector, including attaining the SDG 2.
“Budgetary allocations should be increased and should go to strategic areas of investments which include Extension Services, Access to Credit, Women in Agriculture, Youth in Agriculture, Appropriate Labour-Saving Technologies, Inputs, Post-Harvest Losses Reduction Supports (processing facilities, storage facilities, trainings, market access, etc.), Irrigation, Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA)/Agroecology, Research and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, as well as Coordination.
“The allocation to the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) should be increased as NADF is an important aspect of the NATIP and also vital for the overall development of the agricultural sector, but 97% of its capital should not be allocated for the Renewed Hope Fertilizer Support Program. Allocation for capital expenditure for NADF should be targeted to achieving the commitments in the President’s declared state of emergency on the food security situation in the country, therefore should focus on Extension Services, Access to Credit, Women in Agriculture, Youth in Agriculture, Appropriate Labour-Saving Technologies, Inputs, Post-Harvest Losses Reduction Supports (processing facilities, storage facilities, trainings, market access, etc.), Irrigation, Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA)/Agroecology. It is also vital to ensure timely and total releases to the NADF.”
Women Farmers Say Nigeria Faces Severe Hunger with Proposed Budget to Agriculture
Advocate for 10% of Budget to Agriculture
News
Education: Zulum upgrades infrastructure, teachers’ welfare

Education: Zulum upgrades infrastructure, teachers’ welfare
… orders more high Islamic colleges, libraries
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, held a high-level meeting on Thursday with key stakeholders in the education sector to review current challenges and outline fresh directives for improving learning outcomes, infrastructure, and coordination across the state.
The meeting, chaired by the Governor at the Council Chamber of the Government House in Maiduguri, brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation and heads of education boards, agencies, and institutions.
Zulum emphasised the synergy among all agencies in the education sector noting that with proper collaboration effective service delivery would be provided for the people of Borno.
Governor Zulum outlined a multifaceted plan to rejuvenate the education sector, which includes building houses for teachers, renovating dilapidated schools, providing professional development opportunities, and improving teachers’ access to resources.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, among other senior officials.
… orders more high Islamic colleges, libraries
Meanwhile, as part of his policy direction for the education sector, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has directed the establishment of additional High Islamic Colleges in some local government areas.
The High Islamic Colleges are designed to offer a wide range of programmes, including traditional Islamic studies, literacy and numeracy, modern sciences, and vocational training.
According to Zulum, the High Islamic Colleges were to ensure the integration of the non-formal education sector with formal education. He also affirmed that the colleges will teach basic literacy, numeracy, and vocational skills to Almajiri pupils and will provide a second chance for out-of-school children who have exceeded the enrollment age.
In addition, the governor directed the establishment of additional state libraries in Biu, southern Borno, and Monguno, in the northern part of the state.

“Deliberately, I upgraded the Maiduguri library, with the aim of establishing another one in Biu and one in Monguno in order to promote reading culture, which is fast eroding. I want you to rejuvenate the reading culture by ensuring the library is effective. But most importantly, apart from the physical books, let’s put a mechanism for e-books in place,” Zulum said.
Education: Zulum upgrades infrastructure, teachers’ welfare
News
Police arrest suspected gunrunners, recover eight firearms in Kaduna

Police arrest suspected gunrunners, recover eight firearms in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested two suspected gunrunners and recovered a cache of locally made weapons.
According to sources, the detectives acting on credible intelligence stormed Kurmin Kogi Village and apprehended the suspects Isah Bello, and Sa’idu Haruna, both of Damdami Village, Richifa Ward, Soba LGA.
The sources said the suspects confessed to being in possession of firearms and led investigators to their hideout, where four locally made guns and four locally made pistols were recovered.
The sources added that the suspects are in custody as discreet investigations continue.
Police arrest suspected gunrunners, recover eight firearms in Kaduna
News
Man attacked with hoe over alleged affair in Gombe

Man attacked with hoe over alleged affair in Gombe
By: Zagazola Makama
Security personnel in Gombe have arrested a man for allegedly attacking another with a hoe over claims of adultery.
Sources told Zagazola Makama the incident occurred on Thursday at about 6:30 p.m. in Shongo Kagadama Village, Kwami Local Government Area, when one Musa Usman allegedly confronted Abdulmumini Misa, 38, accusing him of having an affair with his wife.
The suspect struck the victim on the head and injured his fingers on both hands, leaving him with serious wounds.
The victim was taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, where he is receiving treatment.
The sources say the suspect has been arrested and is under investigation.
Man attacked with hoe over alleged affair in Gombe
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