Food Security: FG Allocates ₦2bn Each to 40 Tertiary Institutions

The Federal Government has announced plans to provide up to ₦2 billion in financing to each of 40 tertiary institutions to establish commercial farms as part of efforts to improve food security, create jobs and strengthen agricultural production across Nigeria.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a meeting with heads of selected institutions and officials of the Bank of Agriculture to discuss the implementation of the Renewed Hope Tertiary Agricultural and Entrepreneurship Programme.

According to the minister, the initiative is designed to mobilise more than 500,000 hectares of underutilised land across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for commercial farming, agricultural research and business development.

Participating institutions are expected to provide approximately 1,000 hectares each, although schools with smaller landholdings may qualify if they present viable agricultural proposals.

Under the arrangement, each institution will establish a limited liability company to partner with the Bank of Agriculture, which will provide between ₦1 billion and ₦2 billion in financing for farming activities and related agricultural inputs.

Alausa explained that the programme would address the problem of unused agricultural land in higher institutions by providing funding, modern machinery, technical expertise and institutional support.

He also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education had allocated ₦20 billion in its capital budget to support 20 tertiary institutions under the agricultural development initiative.

Additionally, participating institutions are expected to receive access to 10 tractors each at reduced costs through the government’s agricultural mechanisation programme.

Other support will include improved seedlings, irrigation equipment, water pumps, fertilisers and modern farm implements.

To ensure that farmers have access to markets, the government plans to establish arrangements with produce aggregators to purchase harvested crops and introduce measures to reduce post-harvest losses.

The programme will also cover food processing and other agro-allied businesses, creating opportunities beyond primary agricultural production.

Students, unemployed graduates, alumni, lecturers, non-academic staff and members of host communities are expected to participate in the farming activities under professional supervision.

The government believes the initiative will provide practical agricultural experience, encourage entrepreneurship and generate additional income for participating institutions.

The development comes amid continuing food security challenges in Nigeria. The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that 36.3 million Nigerians faced acute food insecurity during the June–August 2026 lean season.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Adamu Ahmed, welcomed the programme, saying it would help transform agricultural research into commercial production.

The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr Chioma Awuzie, also praised the initiative, while the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, promised financing and market support for participating institutions.

The Federal Government said it would work with relevant agencies and institutions to ensure effective implementation of the programme.