The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has announced the deployment of 10,000 agro-rangers nationwide.
This initiative aims to address insecurity in the country’s food-producing regions, which has recently hampered food production. Olusegun Dada, the Special Assistant to President Tinubu on New Media, disclosed this on his official X handle.
According to the statement, the agro-rangers initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the NSCDC. The agro-rangers are tasked with protecting farmers from malicious destruction of farmlands and resolving farmer-herder conflicts.
The post reads, “As part of ongoing efforts to enhance food security in the Northern region and other parts of the country, the FG through the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed over 10,000 Agro Rangers across 19 states and the FCT.” The agro-rangers will safeguard farmlands, protect farmers from escalating attacks, mediate conflicts between farmers and herders, and prevent malicious destruction of farmlands. While the food inflation crisis in the country is caused by various factors, insecurity has been a long-term challenge. This collaboration between the NSCDC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is expected to address a major issue faced by farmers nationwide.”
The deployment of agro-rangers is part of earlier plans by the federal government through the National Economic Council (NEC) in February to establish agro-rangers as a short-term solution to the country’s insecurity issues until the long-term solution of state police is achieved.
Widespread insecurity, particularly in the northern region, has forced many farmers to abandon their lands, resulting in a significant decrease in food production and contributing to rising food prices nationwide. Just last week, attacks on farming communities in Benue State, known as the nation’s food basket, led to the tragic deaths of over 20 people.
As of July 2024, food inflation has surged to 40.87%. In response, the federal government has proposed the idea of establishing state police forces. However, this proposal cannot be implemented through executive orders or solely by an act of parliament from the National Assembly, even though the bill to create state police has already passed its second reading in the legislature.
