Farmers across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will benefit from a 50 percent subsidy on fertilizers, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced.

The minister disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the distribution of 550 metric tonnes of fertilizers, including NPK, granular urea, NPK gel, and urea gel. The exercise was carried out on his behalf by his Chief of Staff, Chidi Amadi.

Wike said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to food security, agricultural revitalisation, and the welfare of farmers.

“This initiative underscores our firm commitment to food security, agricultural revitalisation, and the welfare of our people. As the FAO has emphasised, food insecurity threatens dignity, stability, and peace,” he stated.

The minister explained that the programme, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, has been institutionalised as an annual support scheme to ease production costs and improve yields. He noted that the timing was deliberate to ensure farmers receive inputs at the peak of the planting season.

Wike, however, cautioned against the diversion of the inputs, stressing that only real farmers must benefit to boost food production and food security in the territory.

He further revealed plans for the FCT Administration to collaborate with international partners, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Leventis Foundation, and the World Bank, to strengthen agronomic practices and build farmers’ capacity.