The federal government, through the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), has launched the distribution of 800 bags of fertilizer to farmers across the council’s 12 electoral wards.
AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, presided over the inauguration ceremony held at the AMAC town hall in Apo Resettlement on Thursday. He emphasized that this initiative is vital for supporting local farmers and enhancing agricultural productivity.
Mr. Maikalangu expressed his gratitude to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for approving the distribution of the fertilizers, which were donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He assured that the fertilizers, consisting of 600 bags of NPK and 200 bags of Urea, would be delivered directly to the farmers, with strict measures in place to prevent any diversion or unauthorized sale of the commodities.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to promoting food production and ensuring food security in AMAC,” he stated. “It also aims to drive economic development in rural communities, where 95 percent of the population is engaged in farming.”
Mr. Maikalangu noted that the fertilizers are being distributed free of charge.
He also mentioned that a committee, including representatives from security agencies, has been established to oversee and ensure fair distribution to selected beneficiaries. These beneficiaries include traditional rulers, religious leaders, women and youth groups, and cooperative societies.
Reaffirming the council’s commitment to sustaining such agricultural support programs, which began in 2023, Mr. Maikalangu highlighted the importance of these efforts in encouraging youth involvement in farming and reducing idleness.
The chairman praised AMAC’s agriculture and natural resources department for successfully coordinating the distribution and assured that the council would continue to support local farmers through future initiatives.
The distribution process was supervised by the AMAC chairman to ensure that the fertilizers reached the intended beneficiaries—those genuinely involved in farming.