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A leading governorship aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Omooba Dotun Babayemi, has called on the country’s security agencies to beam their searchlights on the state in order to frustrate any plot by people who might want to plunge it into chaos as efforts were being geared towards next year’s gubernatorial election.

Babayemi noted that the call has become imperative in view of the fact that the 2026 off-cycle gubernatorial election in the state was fast approaching, noting that as a result, all hands must be on deck for it to be achieved.

In a release by his media office, the governorship aspirant said the people of the state known for being peaceful, should be protected from those who believe in violence.

‘Generally, Osun and its people are noted for being peaceful. However,recent happenings, especially the unwarranted and unprovoked killings of some people at Akinlalu community by some Amatekun officers, really call for concern. It’s gratifying that this is already being addressed by the authorities concerned’ he said.

While commending the Police under the IGP Kayode Egbetokun for its promptness in handling the Akinlalu mindless killings, Babayemi warned that if not handled well, many of such situations might be in the offing.

‘The people of Akinlalu just like other indigenes of Osun, are peace loving and law-abiding as they go out daily in search of their legitimate means of livelihood without ruffling feathers. For some of them to have been gruesomely killed by some Amatekun officers is really disheartening,’ Babayemi decried

‘So, I want to urge that the Police should not only get to the root of the matter but everyone found culpable should be made to face wrath of the law. It will help to serve as deterrent to those who might be planning mayhem in the near future, especially as the state election is getting closer’ added the aspirant.

He insisted that his admonition should not be treated with a kid glove because according to him, the recent happenings might be to test waters; ‘So,we must not all sleep with our eyes closed as troublemakers may be gearing up for the disruption of peace in the state’

Meanwhile, the Gbongan-born Prince has implored the people to continue to be peaceful and law-abiding, assuring that security agencies would be forthcoming for the state to be safe for all.

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori on Thursdaycharged leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the South-South region to embrace the ongoing digital membership registration exercise with seriousness and commitment.

Oborevwori, who gave the charge at the APC E-Registration Hands-On Device/Application Train-the-Trainer Workshop for the South-South zone held in Asaba described the exercise as a crucial step in modernizing the party’s structure for greater accountability and inclusion.

According to him, Delta State had already commenced the digital membership registration in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with over 280,000 members already registered.

He explained that the current phase of the process focused on validating existing records by linking members’ details with their National Identification Numbers (NIN) and expanding the register to capture new entrants.

‘This two-day training is very important. It is an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the process, so that when you return to your respective states, you will be able to train others effectively.

‘For us in Delta, we have moved from the registration phase to validation. We are also accommodating new members and political groups merging into the APC to ensure proper documentation,’ Oborevwori said.

The governor reiterated his confidence in the strength and unity of the APC across the South-South, asserting that ‘there is no other strong political force in the region’ apart from the ruling party.

He welcomed delegates from Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States, urging them to focus on the training and replicate the process efficiently in their respective states.

Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, Chief Emma Eneukwu, in his goodwill message, lauded Governor Oborevwori for what he described as his ‘ebullient, purposeful and commitment-driven leadership,’ commending the visible infrastructural transformation taking place across Delta State.

He conveyed the appreciation of the party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who, according to him, hailed Oborevwori’s strides as ‘exemplary and reflective of visionary leadership.’

Chief Eneukwu described the e-registration initiative as a landmark innovation in Nigeria’s political process, saying it aligns with global standards of transparency and organizational integrity.

‘What we are launching today represents a new chapter in political organization which ensures that every member is digitally captured, verifiable, and accountable,’ he said.

Also speaking, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Hon. Nze Chidi Duru, highlighted the exercise as a unique reform in party administration that guarantees accountability and strengthens internal democracy.

He said the APC was making history by being the first major political party in the country to implement a comprehensive digital membership system.

Earlier, the Delta State APC Chairman, Engr. Omeni Sobotie, praised Governor Oborevwori for providing leadership that has made Delta a reference point in governance and development.

He described the governor as ‘a rare gift to the South-South and the entire nation,’ adding that with his performance, ‘the APC is unstoppable and any party challenging it will run into a brick wall.’

The event was attended by top APC leaders from across the South-South geopolitical zone, including state chairmen, zonal coordinators, and party stakeholders, who pledged to replicate the training and ensure effective implementation of the e-registration process in their respective states.

Former commander of operation safe haven and Chairman of the Plateau State Special Fact-Finding Committee, rtd. General Rogers Nicholas, has urged the government to adopt grassroot-driven security reforms to address the lingering violence in Plateau State.

Speaking at a special security conference organized by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Plateau Security in Abuja on Wednesday, General Nicholas shared firsthand insights from his tenure managing security in the volatile region and outlined key recommendations drawn from months of field consultations and analysis

Nicholas described the crisis in Plateau as a complex web of historical grievances, ethnic tensions, land disputes, open grazing conflicts, systemic poverty, illegal mining, youth unemployment, porous borders, and a fragile criminal justice system.

‘One of the key drivers of this crisis is the cycle of reprisal attacks – farmer-herder conflicts that into community-wide violence,’ he stated.

During his time as commander, Nicholas said he prioritised trust-building and community engagement, hosting town hall meetings with local and Fulani leaders, and introducing community-based compensation systems for incidents such as cattle rustling and crop destruction.

While these efforts saw temporary success, he lamented that many of them were abandoned after his tenure, leading to renewed tensions.

He highlighted top recommendations proposed by the Special Fact-Finding Committee: ‘Establishment of Peace and Security Committees in every community, headed by traditional rulers and inclusive of all ethnic and religious groups.

‘Strict enforcement and review of the Plateau State Anti-Land Grabbing Law (2022).

‘Creation of designated grazing routes and ranching areas, in collaboration with local authorities.

‘Strengthening of the criminal justice system, with stiffer penalties for cattle rustling, illegal arms possession, and farmland destruction.

‘Formation of an Interstate Joint Security Task Force to coordinate efforts with neighboring states – Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Bauchi – to curb cross-border attacks.

‘Integration of local vigilante groups into formal security architecture such as Operation Rainbow, to promote accountability and professionalism.

‘Improved rural communication infrastructure to enable rapid response to attacks, Legislative Oversight and Stakeholder Engagement.’

In his remarks, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Wale Ahmed (Agege), reiterated the House of Representatives’ resolve to unravel the root causes of Plateau’s protracted violence and deliver implementable solutions.

‘These opportunities have been given to us by the House to find out exactly what are the causes of violence – the perpetual, repeated cycle of violence in Plateau State – and what the solutions are,’ he said. ‘We are all concerned, and we waworld to know what is happening.’

He added that over the past month, the committee had expanded its outreach, sending 237 letters to institutions and individuals across Plateau State.

‘So far, 47 responses have been received, including submissions from the Plateau State House of Assembly, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim Youth Foundation, University of Jos Centre for Conflict Management, Operation Rainbow, Miyetti Allah, as well as various traditional councils, emirates, and security agencies.

He also noted that the committee visited former Governor Joshua Dariye, who led the state during the 2001 Jos crisis, to draw from his experience and perspective.

Ahmed concluded by affirming the committee’s ongoing engagement with civil society groups, traditional rulers, and security agencies to ensure the final report truly reflects the will of the people.

Joint security forces on Thursday stormed a bandits camp in the outskirts of Aherin-Bunu community in Kabba-Bunu local government area of the state.

The joint security forces includes the military, Police and vigilantes led by the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd).

Omodara explained that two suspected kidnappers who sustained gunshot injuries were arrested and receiving local treatment.

His words, ‘This is a settlement under Aherin community in Kabba Bunu Local Government Area, about five days ago at about 11pm I received an Intel that we have some of those we have confronted in the fight against banditry in Kogi State. That two of them are receiving treatment in a settlement around Ahenri in Kabba Bunu Local Government.

‘In a swift reaction, before 4:30 am I deployed some security personnel and our hunters and the vigilantes there to ensure that the information didn’t spread and they didn’t escape. They sustain injury of gunshots in the course of fighting bandits. When security Agencies like the Army, the DSS, the Nigerian Police came down to the very Location in the forest, and they were picked. I reported back to the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo and he directed that any house that criminals and bandits are using for treatment such a house must be demolished.

‘We are here now and you know how far we have gone into the forest since morning. The house you are seeing here were the house we picked two of them from. We have been able to saturate everywhere that they don’t have a hiding place in our state anyone and it is difficult to see them inside the town again.

‘Two fake doctors and another nurse that are treating them were also arrested by the joint security forces.

He noted that the bandits preferred to chose remote places like Eherin community for treatment and after their treatment they go back to the business.

‘We will not accept that and we are not going to allow it. That is why the Governor said, get down to that place and demolish their house.

‘We are not going to entertain or spare anyone perpetrating crime in Kogi State,’ he said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, on Thursday assured that the ongoing investigation into the alleged mismanagement of Oil Spill Clean-Up funds in the Niger Delta was not intended to witch-hunt any institution or individual but to strengthen governance processes and prevent future mismanagement of public resources.

According to a report from the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, as of November 2023, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) announced that $360 million had been released for the clean-up of polluted Ogoni land in the Niger Delta region.

Hon. Tajudeen, who stated this in Abuja at the opening of the investigative hearing chaired by Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, tasked all federal agencies and community-based organisations involved in the Ogoni clean-up exercise to improve coordination to ensure that the projects deliver tangible benefits to the people, including job creation, improved livelihoods, and ecosystem restoration.

Speaker Tajudeen, who reiterated the legislature’s determination to ensure that public funds are properly utilised for the benefit of all Nigerians, said: ‘Our parliament conducts legislative activities to ensure that public funds are not only spent but are spent efficiently for the good of all.

‘This investigation will help us determine who manages these funds, how they are applied, which communities are to benefit, and whether transparency and accountability were maintained throughout the process.’

Represented by the Majority Chief Whip, Hon. Usman Kumo, Speaker Tajudeen called on all the ‘agencies concerned to appear before this committee with the necessary information and evidence that will help the committee make fair, balanced, and just recommendations.

‘The House will continue to provide legislative oversight to ensure that the goals of the oil spill clean-up are achieved in a transparent and impactful manner.’

He therefore charged members of the committee to carry out their assignment with utmost diligence, fairness, and professionalism, urging them to be guided by national interest and the welfare of the people of the Niger Delta.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, explained that the investigative hearing was aimed at uncovering the truth behind the utilisation of funds allocated for HYPREP and other related interventions, with a view to ensuring that affected communities receive the relief and restitution they deserve.

While reaffirming the Ad-hoc Committee’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and justice in the handling of funds earmarked for environmental remediation in the region, he vowed that the Ad-hoc Committee ‘will scrutinise project implementation, procurement processes, training programmes, intelligence coordination, and the actual delivery of remediation and restitution to Niger Delta communities.’

He noted that the probe would also assess the performance of regulatory agencies, the level of transparency in contract awards, and the progress of remediation projects already funded by the federal government and its partners.

‘When monitoring and verification reveal gaps, delays, or irregularities, the committee will not hesitate to identify those responsible and recommend corrective measures. This is about ensuring that funds meant for environmental recovery are used effectively for the people who have suffered the most,’ Hon. Etteh added.

He assured that all proceedings of the committee would be recorded for accountability, while witnesses appearing before it must provide truthful testimonies, original documents, and complete evidence of work done.

He further called on government agencies and institutions involved in the oil spill clean-up process to fully cooperate with the committee by submitting all relevant information and documents promptly.

‘These agencies include the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Federal Ministry of Finance, and other related entities.’

Hon. Etteh also commended civil society organisations, community representatives, and technical partners for their continuous advocacy and support in ensuring that environmental justice is achieved in the Niger Delta.

He assured that the committee would put measures in place to protect individuals who provide sensitive information in good faith.

‘Let me be clear – this is not a political theatre or a public show. It is a rigorous, evidence-driven inquiry aimed at restoring accountability, recovering misapplied public funds, addressing institutional failures, and ensuring that real remediation reaches our communities.’

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has condemned Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s allegations that some Nigerian pilots smoke Indian hemp and operate aircraft while under the influence of drugs.

NAAPE categorically refuted the claims, describing them as ‘baseless’ and ‘malicious,’ while demanding their withdrawal with a public apology.

‘We categorically and emphatically refute the broad allegation that Nigerian pilots routinely fly under the influence of narcotics,’ the Association stated.

‘These baseless claims are not only false but represent a dangerous misrepresentation of the rigorous safety standards that govern Nigerian aviation operations.’

NAAPE expressed confidence in the safety oversight functions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and its leadership, citing the Authority’s consistent enforcement of global best practices.

Captain Bunmi Gindeh, President of NAAPE, said, ‘It is unacceptable to make unsubstantiated claims against a community of professionals. The burden of proof lies with whoever makes such an allegation, and it must be supported by evidence or withdrawn with a public apology.’

NAAPE has called on Senator Kalu to substantiate his claims with verifiable evidence or issue an unreserved public withdrawal and apology to the nation’s aviators.

The Association also appealed to the NCAA to issue a public clarification on existing drug and alcohol testing procedures for pilots.

‘We take great pride in our safety record and remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism,’ Captain Gindeh emphasised.

NAAPE invited Senator Kalu and members of the National Assembly’s Committee on Aviation to engage with the Association to understand the comprehensive safety framework governing pilot training, certification, and operations in Nigeria.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state on Thursday flagged off construction of 15.150kilometre Ojoku-Ilemona road in the Oyun local government area of the state, saying the project builds on his efforts to open up communities for economic growth and pleasurable travel experience in the state.

Speaking at the event, Governor Abdulrazaq said that his administration has delivered more than 100kms of road in Kwara South district alone – aside from other projects in health, education, water, and social protection sectors.

He also said that his administration is either constructing or about to award road projects spanning some 109kms in the region, including RAAMP projects.

The governor requested residents to continue to support the administration and take ownership of public infrastructure so they could last longer.

The flag-off coincided with the inspection of the Eiyenkorin-Afon-Ojoku-Offa by the governor, Minister of Works, David Umahi, and a delegation of the BUA Conglomerate led by its Group Executive Director, Alhaji Kabir Rabiu – the contractor of the 42.6km road that links Kwara Central to South and Osun state within 30 minutes.

The governor and the Works minister commended the quality of the road, with the latter saying the road should last between 50 and 100 years.

Governor Abdulrazaq reminded the Minister of the dualisation of the Ilorin-Lokoja Road, saying the project is dear to the people of the state.

The minister’s delegation told the governor that the federal government has approved a flyover at Oko-Olowo, potentially ending years of deadly accident on the Ilorin-Jebba highway.

Governor Abdulrazaq also reminded the Minister of the Share-Patigi Road as well as the Moro Bridge – two projects, he said, are also very dear to him and to the people of the state.

‘We are glad to have this road. This is part of what you call the dividends of democracy, dividends of the renewed hope agenda.

‘This road opens up a lot of communities, agrarian communities, and movement of goods and services. In fact, traffic has settled on this road, even though it’s just about 45% complete. There’s huge traffic already. On our part, we just flagged off the construction of a new road this morning, a 15-kilometer road to feed into other communities and also lead into Osun state. So, we’re glad you’re here to inspect this project, and we’re glad with the work BUA is doing on this road and also on the Bode-Saadu-Kaiama-Kosubosu road which you’re going to see now.

‘We spoke earlier about the issue of Moro Bridge, Share – Patigi Road, and also the prospect of looking at 2026 budget for the dualization of Ilorin – Lokoja road. You recall that the governor of Kogi State and I visited you in your office to look into that project. It’s an ongoing thing. We will continue to push to see how we can have that in the 2026 budget. So, as you move around the state, we welcome you to Kwara and the hospitality of Kwara. But we’re truly happy with this road, and we must commend you for the energy you’re taking to do this thing.

‘This road has been there since the 60s. It was much more of a footpath. So, it’s now a green road, basically. Greenfield Road. BUA just bulldozed everything and created a new road here.

‘All these areas will open up to agriculture. Investors are already coming in. You can see down the road, Olam is about to commission a $25 million soybean processing plant just down the road there. So, the other companies have started to come in. And this road is a catalyst for development’.

Umahi, who commended the governor’s consistent support for President Tinubu and his leadership of the NGF, said he would look at the projects in the coming fiscal year.

He said the road was awarded on May 22, 2023 and started in September 2023, commending the commitment of the President to fund the project through the tax credit scheme.

He lauded the quality of the concrete road, which he said would last between 50 and 100 years.

‘We are similarly proud of what Your Excellency is doing in the state without much noise. We thank your leadership and your support for President Tinubu. I assure you that we will do what you want. We will work around it to support you’, he said.

He also said the Ministry will be in Kwara next month for the Kwara stretch of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.

The flag off of the Ojoku Ilemona road was attended by lawmakers, cabinet members, local government chairmen, traditional rulers, top government officials, and party leaders.

Commissioner for Works, Engineer Abdulquawiy Olododo, said Ojoku -Ilemona road is now a corridor of growth that seeks to transform the lives and livelihoods of the people.

‘For decades, our people in this axis have been constrained by poor road conditions, affecting mobility, trade, healthcare access, education, and agricultural distribution which the present administration has continued to fix’, he said.

He assured that the project will be undertaken with the highest standards of quality.

The Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba Adesoye Adebowale Jimoh, and the Olojoku of Ojoku, Oba Abdulrazaq Adegboyega Afolabi, in their separate remarks, said the road will accelerate development and have significant impacts on their communities, and commended Abdulrazaq for his transformational programmes.

‘Without a good road, there won’t be meaningful development. Once you have a good road, there will be development. People will move around with ease, and businesses will flourish,’ the Elerin said.

Olojoku, who was impressed with the governor’s gesture, conferred on Abdulrazaq ‘the Aare Bobaselu Ojoku’.

He said the road project will not only lessen their travel time from Ojoku to Faje, Ikotun Junction, and Ilemona, but also places Ojoku community on a global map for improved commerce and economic growth.

Convener of the Kwara South Development Initiative, Dr Johnson Bamidele Adewumi, said: ‘Your Excellency has done so much work for the people of Kwara South and I thank you immensely on their behalf. Road development is a very critical infrastructure. It is as important to the community as the backbone to a human being. By the time this road is completed it will not take a seven minute drive. Presently it takes hours. You are also creating access to the market for whatever produce we are bringing out of this place.’

APC Chieftain, Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin, said AbdulRazaq has done so much for the people of Kwara South not because he is seeking re-election but to leave a good legacy.

‘I am privileged to know how well you are doing for us in Kwara South. And I do not stand here as sycophantic. We are chronicling what you have done in the region for people to know you are working. You are doing it for legacy. And may God continue to empower you to do more for Kwara South and indeed the entire Kwara State,’ he said.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has assured authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of the body’s dedication to ensuring a well-organised and spiritually fulfilling Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims next year in full alignment with the expectations of the Saudi authorities.

This is even as the Hajj commission expressed its commitment to stronger collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah with a view to delivering a successful Hajj operation in 2026.

NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, said these while briefing the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Hajj during a virtual meeting held on Tuesday.

The virtual meeting was part of ongoing consultations with the Saudi authorities to ensure seamless coordination for the upcoming Hajj.

According to Usman, ‘The Commission remains committed to fostering strong collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to deliver a successful 2026 Hajj.’

The NAHCON boss used the opportunity of the meeting to outline key milestones in Nigeria’s preparations, including the successful securing of initial camp bookings slots and associated services, fully aligned with the 2026 Hajj calendar released by the Saudi authorities.

On the critical issue of airlift, Usman informed the Saudi authorities that the commission was in the final stage of the process of appointing air carriers for the 2026 operation.

He said that NAHCON would shortly formalise and communicate the list of approved airlines to the Saydi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to ensure alignment with Saudi aviation protocols and paving the way for slot allocations and flight schedule harmonization.

Speaking on tour operators, the chairman informed the Ministry that NAHCON was in the advanced stage of screening and would retain the same grouping of companies into 10 same as in previous year.

The Commission, according to Usman, would soon provide the names of lead companies and confirm that the tour companies would maintain the same camp zones as allocated in 2025.

Responding, the representative of the Saudi Ministry, Youssef Jamal Altharthi, commended NAHCON’s proactive efforts and emphasized the importance of early submission of pilgrims’ data to facilitate efficient planning.

The Saudi official also urged NAHCON to ensure compliance with health guidelines and advocated for early visa processing to enable the timely issuance of Nusuk cards.

Altharthi informed of a new policy requiring pilgrims to receive their Nusuk cards upon arrival at the airport in the Kingdom instead of receiving same at their hotels or during departure to Makkah. This, he said, was to streamline operations.

During the virtual meeting, Prof Usman was in company with top NAHCON officials, including the Commission of Policy, Research, Statistics,Infirmation and Library Services (PRSILS), Prof Abubakar A. Yagawal; Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofi Olarenwaju Elegushi; Secretary to the Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Ali; Director of Administration and Human Resources, Alhaji Alidu Shutti and the SA General Duties to the Chairman, Dr Danbaba Haruna.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state has dismissed recent remarks by the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, that nobody can capture the South-East with defections.

The party’s spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, described Obi’s comments as long on drama but short on logic, adding that the former Anambra State governor was only making desperate attempts to remain politically relevant in a nation that has moved on from empty populism.

He stated, ‘It is ironic that the same Peter Obi, the undisputed master defector in Nigerian politics now wants to lecture others on political loyalty. This is a man who has jumped from APGA to PDP, then to the Labour Party, and who, according to whispers within his own shrinking circle, is already scouting for another platform ahead of 2027.’

Oladejo accused Obi of suffering selective amnesia over his record of political cross-carpeting, maintaining that, ‘Obi is politically stranded, abandoned by allies, weakened by reality, and walking alone in a wilderness of his own making.’

‘The APC is not capturing the South-East. The region is simply aligning with the national mainstream because Nigerians are rejecting emotional blackmail, divisive rhetoric, and politics of victimhood. The South-East deserves inclusion, infrastructure, and investment, and not empty crusades and sentimental activism,’ he declared.

He further argued that power in Nigeria is earned through structure, consistency, and bridge-building qualities which according to him, Obi lacks.

He stated, ‘His politics of isolation and sanctimony may have trended on social media once, but today’s Nigeria demands substance, not sympathy.’

He, however, advised Obi to come to terms with the new political reality under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and shun divisive and religious politics.

‘The South-East is not anyone’s fiefdom. Divisive and religious politics no longer have a place in a country that is embracing unity and progress. The sooner he faces that truth, the better for what remains of his political relevance.’

Nigeria’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and inclusive agricultural growth are receiving a major boost as the National Agriculture Development Fund (NADF) and Jigawa State Government jointly launched an initiative to develop the first-ever sub-national agricultural lending de-risking framework in the country.

The two-day co-design workshop, themed ‘Jigawa State Agricultural Lending De-Risking Model,’ marks a critical step toward improving access to finance for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses through innovative, state-led financial risk management mechanisms.

Speaking at the event, Mohammed Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of NADF, said the initiative represents a bold, practical approach to overcoming long-standing barriers that have constrained agricultural lending in Nigeria.

‘Persistent barriers to access to finance for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses cannot be overemphasized. If state-led mechanisms like this are put in place, those barriers can be easily surmounted. National-level financing bodies like ours have done well, but a bottom-up approach led by state governments, tailored to their peculiarities, will have greater impact,’ Ibrahim stated.

Ibrahim emphasized that the NADF, established by an Act of Parliament in 2022, plays a statutory role in bridging the national and sub-national agricultural finance ecosystems. He said the Fund will continue to facilitate partnerships and provide technical guidance to ensure the success of the Jigawa pilot model.

‘Our role is to bridge finance ecosystems and facilitate engagements for the entire agriculture sector. This is a bold initiative, and with the technical assistance of Propcom+, (A UKAid-Funded programme), we will do our very best to ensure it succeeds,’ he explained.

Representing the Jigawa State Government, the Director General of the Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Agency (JATA), Dr. Saifullahi Umar, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to driving agricultural transformation through innovation, private sector inclusion, and strategic partnerships.

He disclosed that Jigawa State has invested nearly $30 million in agriculture over the past two and a half years, covering mechanization, input financing, and rural infrastructure. Despite these efforts, Umar noted that the financing needs of the state’s vast agricultural sector, valued at N3.4 trillion, remain enormous.

‘Our mechanization program cost about $17 million, and input financing, especially for rice, was around $7 million. But government alone cannot meet the capital requirements of agriculture. We need to attract private investors and financial institutions into every link of the value chain, from input supply and production to processing, marketing, and distribution’, he said.

Jigawa’s agricultural potential is vast. With 2.4 million hectares of arable land, 3.6 million cattle, and over 6 million sheep and goats, the state is already one of Nigeria’s top producers of rice, wheat, and sesame. It currently produces 2 million metric tons of rice annually and aims to reach 4 million metric tons by 2030.

‘That would not happen without the right financing. We must create an enabling environment and mechanisms that attract private sector investment and ensure sustainable financing for farmers’, Umar noted.

According to Naona Usoroh, NADF’s Head of International Partnerships, the framework is being co-designed with technical support from Propcom+, with NADF leading the initiative to ensure, amongst others, that the Framework aligns with national agricultural plans and policies, global best practices, and climate-smart principles.

‘Our mission is to be Nigeria’s leading catalytic institution driving inclusive, resilient, and commercially viable agriculture. Through this initiative, NADF will help states like Jigawa develop de-risking models that ensure not only affordable but also sustainable financing for smallholder farmers’, Usoroh said.

She explained that the model will focus on four key pillars: framework development, financial innovation, policy alignment, and institutional capacity building.

The framework is expected to enhance transparency and attract private capital by ensuring that every N1 of state commitment generates multiple inflows from development partners and financiers.

‘We want to move away from one-off project financing to systems that sustain themselves. The idea is to create a catalytic effect that multiplies investment and ensures continuous access to affordable finance,’ Usoroh added.

The workshop also highlighted Jigawa’s strategic readiness to lead the pilot, anchored on strong policy reforms under Governor Umar Namadi’s administration.

Recent legislation, such as the Ministry of Livestock Development Law and the Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Service (JATS) Law, has established institutional frameworks to industrialize agriculture, formalize livestock value chains, and promote climate-resilient practices.

Jigawa’s 2024-2030 Agricultural Policy further envisions transforming the state into West Africa’s leading hub for agricultural production and processing, emphasizing food security, youth and women empowerment, and private sector collaboration.

Under these reforms, the state has already constructed over 800 kilometers of rural access roads, empowered 300,000 women and youth, and attracted national recognition for leadership in agricultural innovation and productivity.

Dr Olumide Ojo, Strategy Director at Propcom+, described the initiative as a crucial step in promoting inclusive finance and climate resilience. The programme’s access-to-finance strategy focuses on business readiness, capacity building, and innovative product design for underserved farmers.

If successful, the framework could serve as a national template for other states, accelerating Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda and contributing significantly to food security and rural development.