The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has deployed over 10,000 Agro Rangers across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of efforts bolster food security and protect agricultural investments across the country.

The initiative is led by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and it is a part of a broader strategy by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to address the ongoing challenges of food production and inflation in the country.

The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, announced the deployment which aims to safeguard farmlands and ensure the safety of farmers who have been increasingly targeted by violent attacks.

The Agro Rangers are also tasked with mediating conflicts between farmers and herders and preventing the malicious destruction of farmlands, a growing concern in the Northern region and other parts of the country.

The Tinubu administration’s focus on agriculture as a pillar of national development is further underscored by the anticipated arrival of over 5,000 sophisticated farming equipment.

These resources are expected to support the cultivation of over 10 million hectares of land, aligning with the administration’s ambitious goals to enhance food production and curb the rising food inflation crisis.

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance food security in the Northern region and other parts of the country, the FG through the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps(NSCDC) has deployed over 10,000 Agro Rangers across 19 states and the FCT.

“The Agro Rangers will, among other things; safeguard farmlands and protect farmers from escalating attacks, mediate conflicts between farmers and herders, and prevent malicious destruction of farmlands.

“While the food inflation crisis in the country is a function of many factors, insecurity has been a long term challenge and this collaboration between the NSCDC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is expected to solve a major challenge faced by farmers across the country.

A reminder that we are expecting to take delivery of over 5000 sophisticated farming equipments, for the first instance, as the nation rounds up her efforts for the cultivation of over 10million hectares of land as envisaged by President Bola Tinubu’s administration”, Dada said.

While the current food inflation is influenced by multiple factors, including global economic conditions, the government’s efforts to address insecurity in the agricultural sector are seen as a critical step towards stabilizing food supply and ensuring long-term food security for the nation”, Dada said.

Source: The Nation