The Federal Government has begun a nationwide audit and digital registry of farmers to tackle food insecurity and eliminate corruption in agricultural support programmes.
Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, announced the initiative.
He said the goal is to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit from government interventions, thereby limiting access to what he described as “briefcase farmers”, individuals who collect benefits without actively engaging in farming.
According to Olusegun, the digital registry will verify and track real farmers nationwide, enabling the proper distribution of government resources intended to boost agricultural productivity.
In addition to the audit, the federal government has concluded plans to establish cattle breeding centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
These centres will be managed by the newly created Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and are expected to improve livestock production while helping to reduce recurring conflicts between farmers and herders.
Olusegun explained that the Tinubu administration is taking a multi-layered approach to strengthening agriculture, which includes introducing new technologies, expanding support for real farmers, and improving transparency.
He stated that under the government’s mechanisation plan, Nigeria will receive 10,000 tractors over the next five years, with 2,000 already delivered along with other modern farming equipment.
Olusegun also highlighted ongoing agricultural projects, such as the Special Agro-Processing Zones, implemented in partnership with the African Development Bank, and the Agropocket Initiative, which has already seen the cultivation of over 133,000 hectares of wheat in northern Nigeria.
He emphasised the government’s resolve to reposition agriculture as a key part of Nigeria’s economy.
“The Tinubu administration remains committed to turning Nigeria into a major agricultural hub and addressing food challenges through innovation, transparency and sustained investment in the sector,” he said.
