The National Economic Council (NEC) at its 152nd meeting in Abuja, unanimously backed the nationwide deployment of solar-powered irrigation pumps manufactured by NASENI, aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity ahead of the upcoming dry season. The council also tasked relevant officials to secure funding and seek presidential authorization for mass production.
The solar irrigation system, designed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is intended to gradually replace costly petrol-driven pumps, thereby reducing farmers’ expenses and increasing crop yields. The council stressed that the innovation is strategic to facilitate national food security and to improve rural livelihoods.
During proceedings chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, NEC resolved to notify President Bola Tinubu to approve the mass distribution of the pumps. Senator Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, was assigned to coordinate the necessary funding framework to enable NASENI to scale up production.
Vice President Shettima sees this innovation as a major boost towards continuous farming nationwide. He lauded the system’s modern features, which includes; GPS tracking, mobile app dashboards, usage monitoring, and flexible payment options, as indicators of Nigerian inventiveness par global standards.
Shettima added that this technology is capable of generating carbon credit benefits to farmers nationwide. He also referenced other government agricultural programs under the Renewed Hope administration, notable amongst other include the insuring 250,000 farmers across eight states, advancing value addition legislation, and activating a N250 billion agriculture loan facility aimed at small holder farmers.
Reports from the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit promised partnerships and projects designed to improve agriculture sustainability, including collaboration with Brazil and the World Bank-backed AGROW program targeting strategic value chains. In addition to this, grassroots campaigns have mobilized over half a million people in eight states, to facilitate community trust and engagement.
During the meeting, NEC was updated on Nigeria’s anticipatory action framework for mitigating riverine flooding. Led by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the program prioritizes early warnings, targeted support, and inclusive measures for vulnerable communities in 13 hotspot states. Governors were urged to establish emergency management committees and enhance communication strategies.
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State briefed the council on the rising production costs in agriculture caused by energy expenses, urging government attention to fertilizer pricing reforms and providing small-scale farming tools to complement the tractor distribution program.
Despite the comprehensive agenda, the council did not address the pending issue of the state police establishment, a topic President Tinubu has strongly supported amid growing insecurity in Nigeria. Although many state governors favor creating decentralized policing, it was notably excluded from the meeting’s discussions yesterday.
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