… hails Tinubu for bold reforms on fertilizer liberalisation, seed fund
By Ahmed Isah
ABUJA — Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to fast-track the disbursement of the Federal Government’s ₦250 billion loan facility for smallholder farmers at a single-digit interest rate.
Shettima, who gave the order during the 6th PFSCU Steering Committee meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said an implementation roadmap must be drawn up immediately to ensure timely delivery of the funds to the target beneficiaries.
“On the Bank of Agriculture ₦250 billion facility, we must sit with all stakeholders and design a robust plan that ensures these funds get to farmers and translate into real productivity gains,” he stated.
The Vice President commended President Bola Tinubu for granting the PFSCU political cover to act boldly on critical agricultural reforms, particularly the fertilizer raw materials liberalisation initiative and the ₦50 billion Presidential Seed Fund.
According to him, Tinubu’s clear directives have enabled the PFSCU to accelerate delivery of interventions that directly support farmers and strengthen Nigeria’s food security systems.
Governors who attended the meeting, including Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), and Bassey Otu (Cross River), stressed the need for transparency in loan disbursement and called for subsidies to support local farmers. Oyebanji pledged that Ekiti would provide monthly financial support to the PFSCU.
Earlier, PFSCU Coordinator, Ms. Marion Moon, warned that with 30.8 million Nigerians still food insecure, urgent steps must be taken to safeguard recent gains. She highlighted achievements since April, including the insurance of 250,000 farmers, the rollout of the Harvesting Hope Caravan across eight states, approval of the seed fund, and progress on the World Bank–backed $500 million AGROW programme.
The meeting was attended by deputy governors, finance and agriculture ministers, ALGON President, private sector players, and development partners, who all pledged to deepen collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s food security.
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