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Agric ministry pledges to reduce post-harvest losses by 25%
By Francesca Hangeior.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has pledged to significantly reduce post-harvest losses in the agricultural sector by 25 per cent as part of its efforts to ensure food security and boost domestic production.
This commitment was made during the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones High-Level Implementation Acceleration Dialogue held in Abuja on Monday.
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones initiative is a Nigerian government programme aimed at boosting agriculture through targeted investments, integrating farming, processing, and marketing to increase productivity, reduce losses, and enhance value addition for food security, job creation, and poverty reduction, supported by the African Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and Islamic Development Bank.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasised the urgent need for a collaborative approach to address the existing challenges within the agricultural sector.
“Our objective is clear: we must enhance our production capabilities and reduce post-harvest losses from the current 45 per cent to 20 per cent. This is critical not only for food security but also for improving the livelihoods of our farmers,” Kyari stated.
According to him, the SAPZ initiative aims to create agro-industrial processing zones across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on key crops like cassava, rice, maize, and cocoa.
He added that the programme is expected to generate approximately 500,000 direct and indirect jobs while also contributing additional metric tonnage to the nation’s food supply.
Finance Minister Wale Edun, speaking at the event, reinforced the government’s commitment to industrialisation through agriculture.
“The successful production of food is fundamental to our economic stability. When we achieve our production goals, we will see a significant impact on inflation, interest rates, and ultimately, our trade balance,” he said.
Edun highlighted the collaboration between the federal and state governments, as well as private sector partners, as vital for the success of the SAPZ programme.
“We cannot afford to disrupt domestic production while addressing the immediate food needs of our population. This requires a careful balance of both short-term and long-term strategies,” Edun added.
The Country Director of the African Development Bank, Abdul Kamara, also spoke at the workshop, underscoring the potential of the SAPZ programme to transform the rural economy.
“By reducing post-harvest losses from 50 per cent to 10-20 per cent, we can make a significant contribution to the economy and improve food security,” Kamara stated.
He encouraged all stakeholders to work collaboratively to address challenges impeding implementation.
The workshop brought together various stakeholders, including state governors and representatives from development partners, to discuss the acceleration of the SAPZ programme.
Dr. Abdulkazumare, representing the Governor of Kaduna State, emphasised the need for innovative solutions to current constraints.
“Our goal should be to learn from successful models globally and adapt them to our local context,” he added.
The Agriculture Minister stated that as discussions continue, the Agriculture Ministry remains optimistic about the outcomes of the SAPZ initiative, which it sees as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation and economic growth.
“The path forward requires not just commitment but also effective communication to galvanise public support.
Together, we can build a resilient agricultural sector that meets the needs of all Nigerians,” Kyari said.
The Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Dede Ekoue, expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating, “We would like to extend our warm congratulations to the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security for this laudable initiative.”
He also recognised the leadership of the Minister of Finance, stating, “His leadership in facilitating the finalisation and implementation of the Financing Agreements has been invaluable.”
Ekoue highlighted ongoing efforts in Kano State, where IFAD is supporting an accelerated pilot project aimed at enhancing the capabilities of rice and tomato farmers.
He emphasised the importance of partnerships, saying, “We are pleased that the implementation of these strategies has led to some quick wins, such as the signing of off-take contracts.”
The director stressed the need for collaborative efforts, adding, “We must work together to address the challenges affecting implementation.”
He outlined key actions to enhance the programme’s success, including strengthening coordination and technical capacity.
Regarding Ogun State, Ekoue acknowledged the signing of a subsidiary loan agreement and expressed hope for further agreements to expedite project implementation.
“We are convinced that this strategic gathering will empower all stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of SAPZ at these critical times for food security and inclusive economic growth,” he said.
…..Oyedele elevated to Finance Minister
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the membership of the Federal Executive Council.
According to a memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, two cabinet members, Mr. Wale Edun and Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa are to leave the cabinet while their replacements have been named.
Edun, until the latest development, was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy.
He has been directed to hand over to Mr. Taiwo Oyedele who is now to take over as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Oyedele was formerly a Minister of State in the ministry.
Also Mr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma (PhD .) has been named as the ministerial nominee and minister designate for the Housing and Urban Development Ministry.
The memo also directed Dangiwa to hand over to the Minister of State in the ministry.
The memo stated that “all handing over and taking over processes should be completed on or before close of business on Thursday 23rd April, 2026.”
Explaining the President’s decision, Akume said: “These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He said the President, in approving the cabinet reshuffle, has fully exercised his powers as conferred on him by Sections 147 and 148 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended).
The President thanked the outgoing ministers for their services to the nation while wishing them the best in all their future endeavours.
The President, Akume noted, equally assured all cabinet members that “the process of reinvigoration shall be continuous.”
A United States lawmaker has accused Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of attempting to bribe a U.S. official in a bid to suppress a report alleging genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
Kimberly Daniels, a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, made the allegation in a video posted on her official Facebook account on Monday. The video has since gained traction online, sparking debate across political and diplomatic circles.
In the video, Daniels claimed that the alleged bribe was intended to influence the narrative surrounding a report by the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), which accused Nigerian authorities of failing to address what it described as targeted killings of Christians in parts of the country.
“A U.S. elected official was offered money by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN-WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report,” Daniels said.
The lawmaker, who also serves as chairperson of the UN-WCD, maintained that she would not be intimidated or silenced, insisting that the issue of violence against Christians in Nigeria must be addressed transparently.
Daniels had earlier called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove Matawalle from office, alleging his complicity in violent incidents reported in states such as Plateau, Benue, and Kaduna.
As of the time of filing this report, Matawalle has not publicly responded to the allegations. The Nigerian government has also not issued an official statement addressing the claims.
The development adds a new dimension to ongoing international scrutiny over security challenges in Nigeria, particularly concerning communal and sectarian violence in parts of the country.
. Court order a death knell for the financial nerves of drug cartels, says Marwa
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured another significant win in its ongoing offensive against drug cartels as the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, granted an interim forfeiture order for 17 containers laden with illicit opioids worth over N33.6 billion in street value.
The containers, which were intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, on 4th September; 14th August; 13th August; 29th July; 13th June; 30th May; 29th May; 28th May; 20th May; 19th May; 14th May and 29th April, all in 2025, contain a staggering haul of Nineteen Million Six Hundred Thousand (19,600,000) pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, as well as Two Million Four Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand Four Hundred (2,496,400) bottles of Codeine Syrup. The combined street value of the seizures is estimated at Thirty-Three Billion, Six Hundred and Ninety-One Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N33,691,200,000).
The forfeiture order was issued by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, following a motion exparte filed by the NDLEA on 10th February 2026 in suit number FHC/PH/MISC/25/2026.
Ruling on the application, Justice Adamu said “An order is hereby made forfeiting in the interim to the Federal Government of Nigeria seventeen (17) shipping containers containing a total, of three hundred and sixty-five thousand, six hundred and seventy-five (365,657kg) of various types of psychotropic substances, as well as other items as stated in the schedule to this application, illegally imported into Nigeria through the Onne Sea Port, Onne, Eleme, Rivers State by unknown persons.”
He further ruled that “An order is hereby made vesting custody and possession of the said containers and their respective contents to the Applicant/Complainant untiI the final determination of this Suit.”
Reacting to the court’s order, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) described the forfeiture as a death knell for the financial nerves of the criminal syndicates involved.
According to him, this is not just a seizure, it is a total dispossession of the resources the drug cartels intended to use in destroying the lives of our youths and funding further criminality.
By stripping the criminal syndicates of assets worth over N33.6 billion, we have struck at the heart of their operations. This sends a clear message: the Nigerian state will not allow the proceeds of death to circulate to fund terrorism and other forms of criminality in our country.”
While commending the Nigerian Judiciary for its steadfast support and timely intervention in granting the interim forfeiture, Marwa noted that the partnership between the temple of justice and the agency is critical to winning the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
He further lauded the officers, men and women of NDLEA, particularly those attached to the Onne Port Command, for their vigilance, professional integrity, and eagle-eyed scrutiny that led to the discovery of the concealed drugs. The NDLEA Chairman also acknowledged the vital role played by sister security agencies including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other port stakeholders whose cooperation ensured a seamless interdiction process.
He also commended international partners for their continued intelligence sharing and technical support which remains a cornerstone of the agency’s success, adding that the Agency remains resolute in its mission to dismantle drug networks across the country.
Tinubu approves minor cabinet reshuffle, sacks Edun, Dangiwa
US Lawmaker Accuses Tinubu’s Minister Of Bribery To Cover Up Genocide Report
NDLEA secures forfeiture of N33.6 billion worth of opioids intercepted at Onne Port(Photos)
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