Over 1,000 bloggers from the Bloggers and Vloggers Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA) and the Tinubu-Shettima Support Group have praised the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, for creating 60,000 jobs in rural economies across the country.
In a joint statement on Sunday, signed by BAVCCA Vice President Dr. Adebayo Olugbenga, National Coordinator of Tinubu-Shettima Support Group Alhaji Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary Hon. Uche Okafor, the groups expressed their unwavering support for Kyari’s leadership and significant progress in the agricultural sector over the past year.
The statement read, in part, “It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we, the members of the Bloggers and Vloggers Content Creators Association in Nigeria and the Tinubu-Shettima Support Group, gather today to pass a vote of confidence in the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari. In the past year, Senator Kyari has demonstrated unparalleled commitment to revolutionising agriculture in Nigeria, and we applaud his remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication to this crucial sector of our economy.”
The group highlighted that under Kyari’s leadership, the agricultural sector has injected an estimated N309 billion into the Nigerian economy through the harvest of agricultural produce. They commended the minister for providing rural infrastructure, such as constructing 77.8 km of asphalt roads, 130.9 km of earthen roads, 102 motorised and solar-powered boreholes, and installing 6,504 solar street lights, generating over 60,000 jobs in rural areas.
The statement also enumerated Kyari’s achievements, including the launch of dry season farming on 118,657 hectares of wheat in 15 states, producing 55,000 metric tonnes of wheat in Jigawa state. Additionally, the Federal Government supported 107,429 wheat farmers with inputs like fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, resulting in an output of 474,628 metric tonnes.
In response to a presidential directive, the Ministry of Agriculture released 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities, including maize, millet, sorghum, and garri, from the National Strategic Food Reserve to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for distribution to vulnerable Nigerians. The Federal Government also procured and distributed 58,500 metric tonnes of milled rice to all states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to combat rising food prices.
The statement noted efforts to reduce malnutrition and stunted growth among children by fortifying crops with Vitamin A. To address food inflation, the government distributed 60,432 metric tonnes of improved seeds, 887,255 metric tonnes of seedlings, 138 value kits, 501,726 litres of agrochemicals, 62,328.5 metric tonnes of inorganic fertilizers, 1,000 kg of fungicide, and 33,200 pieces of equipment to farmers.
The Ministry also received 2.15 million bags of fertilizer from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for free distribution to farmers. To ensure farmers’ safety, resources were provided to Agro Rangers and other security agencies.
In livestock production and animal health, the Federal Government procured and distributed 14,056,467 doses of vaccines for anthrax spore, foot and mouth diseases for risk-based vaccination in 22 high-risk states. Additionally, the establishment of animal health centres, veterinary hospitals, micro earth dams, boreholes, milk collection centres, cottage feed mills, and livestock centres were noted.
On mechanisation, BAVCCA explained that the Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Deere and Tata Africa to assemble and supply 10,000 tractors with implements and accessories, and 100 combine harvesters, to support production. The Federal Government also partnered with the Brazilian government for €995,000 to provide mechanisation hubs across Nigeria.
The groups expressed confidence in Kyari’s continued leadership, believing it will further strengthen the agricultural sector and contribute to Nigeria’s food security, economic prosperity, and sustainable development.
“Kyari’s dedication, innovation, and tireless efforts have truly set a new standard for agricultural leadership in Nigeria. We, the members of BAVCCA and Tinubu-Shettima Support Group, pledge our unwavering support and commitment to working alongside the Minister to further strengthen the agricultural sector and realise our collective vision of a prosperous, food-secure, and environmentally sustainable Nigeria,” the statement assured.
