The Federal Government has rolled out a wheat subsidy initiative aimed at improving food security and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported wheat. The program is part of the broader National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), designed to boost agricultural productivity and foster economic development.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, made the announcement in Abuja, revealing that the initiative will cover 16 wheat-producing states. The scheme offers financial support to farmers, including a 25 percent subsidy on certified wheat seeds and a 50 percent subsidy on fertilizers, to reduce production costs and encourage local wheat cultivation.
According to Ishaku Buba, National Project Coordinator for NAGS-AP, the program is expected to benefit 280,000 smallholder farmers and select medium-scale farmers, organized into clusters. To streamline input distribution, 409 redemption centers have been set up nationwide, with 281 already operational. These centers have reached nearly 70,000 farmers, and the input distribution phase is expected to conclude by the end of the month, aligning with the wheat planting season.
The initiative also involves enhanced security measures at redemption centers, including personnel from the Police, DSS, and NSCDC, to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the program. Edun praised the project team for their hard work, emphasizing that the subsidy will strengthen food security, support rural economies, and contribute to Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in wheat production.
By addressing high production costs and providing targeted resources to farmers, the government aims to significantly reduce the nation’s wheat import bill and boost local agricultural output.
