By Isa Abdul, Abuja

Six locations in five states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have been chosen by the Federal Government for the pilot implementation of its National Ranching Policy.

Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, disclosed this after briefing President Bola Tinubu on the ministry’s activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Maiha revealed that the pilot programme would commence at the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau as the model concept for the new ranching programme.

The five states identified for the pilot programme and FCT are Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna , Nasarawa and Plateau.

He said the areas were selected because they have recorded some of the highest incidences of farmer-herder conflicts in recent years. In his words:

“Our understanding is that large numbers of cattle on the move are crisis-prone because grazing routes have disappeared due to farming, urbanisation and infrastructure development.

“Nomadism, as we know it, is no longer sustainable and we need a different concept.”

The minister added that the government had engaged more than 34 pastoral organisations and would continue consultations to build support for the policy.

He said the ministry recently met pastoralist leaders under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, and would hold another engagement within two weeks.

The minister said the policy would encourage pastoralists to rear animals in designated locations rather than move them over long distances in search of feed and water.

“Today, we go and fetch the grass and bring it where the animals are. Better still, grow the grass where the animals are.

“There are genetically developed grasses with all the nutritional value required to feed livestock,” he said.

Maiha said the government would provide housing, veterinary clinics, schools, primary healthcare centres, solar lighting and water infrastructure in designated ranching communities.

He added that each grazing reserve would evolve into an economic hub capable of attracting milk processors, modular abattoirs, bio-digesters and other livestock-related businesses.

“Imagine what you are going to have if you have 30,000 herds of cattle in one area. The milk collection alone will attract processors and many other investments,” he said.

The minister said the Federal Government was also implementing a nationwide livestock identification programme using radio frequency technology.

According to him, all four-legged livestock would be tagged for identification, geolocation and proof of ownership.

He said the initiative would help combat cattle rustling, recover lost animals and build a comprehensive national livestock database.

Maiha said the ministry was also promoting dairy development, commercial fodder cultivation, modern abattoirs, veterinary services and poultry production.

He disclosed that seven model veterinary clinics had been established, with plans to provide at least one model veterinary hospital in every state.

The minister added that the government was strengthening vaccine storage facilities and encouraging investments in dairy and red meat value chains.

On the ministry’s progress, Maiha said about 20 states had established similar livestock ministries or agencies, reflecting growing acceptance of the Federal Government’s livestock development agenda.

He commended Tinubu for his support and commitment to transforming the livestock sector.

He quoted the President as saying, “The value chains in the livestock sector are fantastic,” while urging Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities in the industry.

Even though five states, and the FCT have been selected for the pilot model, only Wase in plateau state has been clearly mentioned as a designated site.

By Isa Abdul, Abuja

An MoU to provide agricultural support and opportunities for three million women through the Women Agro-Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme has been signed between the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

Expanded women’s access to finance, mechanisation and opportunities across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain is what the deal aims to achieve.

The Minister, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, while speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security and women’s economic empowerment.

She acknowledged women’s vital roles in agriculture but lacked adequate access to finance and resources needed to expand their businesses.

“This MoU with the Bank of Agriculture fills the critical financing gap confronting women in agriculture.

“Women are already farming, but many cannot scale because they lack access to finance and support.

“Access to finance will move women beyond smallholder farming into agro-entrepreneurship, creating agro-billionaires,” she said.

The minister hoped the WAVE Programme would enable women to participate across the agricultural value chain, including mechanised farming, input supply, processing and other agribusiness opportunities.

According to her, the programme will also provide education, digital tools and other support systems to improve women’s productivity and business success.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said about 33,000 women had already indicated interest, while the Federal Government was targeting three million beneficiaries in the coming years.

She urged women across the country to embrace the initiative, saying their economic empowerment would strengthen families, communities and national development.

“Women are the solution. We must attract more women into agriculture and create opportunities that amplify the gains of this partnership,” she said.

Earlier, Managing Director of BOA, Mr Ayo Sotinrin, said the bank was committed to expanding agricultural financing for women, who accounted for a significant proportion of its reliable loan beneficiaries.

He said the bank would support women through input financing, mechanisation and other interventions designed to improve productivity and incomes.

Sotinrin said farmers would access improved seeds and other inputs at subsidised interest rates to boost yields.

“Instead of one tonne per hectare, farmers can harvest up to five tonnes through improved seeds and better support. Raising productivity remains Nigeria’s most pressing agricultural priority,” he said.

He added that women would also access tractors at subsidised rates, with repayment spread over three to five years.

“A woman can acquire a tractor, provide services to farmers and repay gradually until she owns it outright.

“This strengthens the business case for women in mechanisation,” he said.

Sotinrin said BOA would work with farmer aggregation companies and cooperatives to improve access to loans, ensure repayment and expand agricultural financing.

He expressed optimism that the programme would attract greater support from development partners and relevant government institutions.

Earlier, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Esuabana Nko Asanye, said the MoU would help move women from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

She said the partnership would provide access to mechanisation, input financing, improved seeds, demonstration farms and agricultural knowledge.

She added that beneficiaries would also become tractor owners, operators, seed producers, input suppliers and agribusiness managers.

“The programme begins modestly but progressively empowers women to become financially independent,” she said.

Asanye said the initiative would improve women’s incomes, strengthen household livelihoods and boost national food production.

By Comrade Tyokegh Benjamin ,
Economist & Policy Analyst
Date: July 24, 2026

The recent press release by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited on restricting the movement of oranges out of Benue State deserves careful reconsideration. While the intention to drive industrialization and local value addition is both understandable and commendable, the proposed approach of channeling all farmers into a single-buyer arrangement may have unintended consequences for the very people it seeks to support.

It is important to recognize that farmers operate businesses and must retain the right to sell to the buyer offering the best price and terms. Farming involves significant risks — from weather and pests to market fluctuations — and farmers should be able to benefit when market prices are high. Therefore, preventing a farmer in Konshisha or Vandeikya from accessing buyers in Lagos, Kano, or even Niger Republic in order to supply the Bensono Concentrate Factory at a set price could inadvertently undermine their income. In effect, limiting their market options functions like a tax on those least able to bear it.

From an economic perspective, a single-buyer system, or monopsony, tends to weaken market dynamics. When demand is restricted, prices for the farmer naturally come under pressure. Without alternative buyers, the factory itself has little incentive to remain competitive on price or service. We should also consider the principle of comparative advantage. Benue’s strength lies in producing high-quality oranges, while other regions may be better positioned for processing. Blocking trade flows reduces efficiency across the value chain. If processors elsewhere can pay more, then the broader economy benefits when that trade is allowed. In addition, well-defined property rights and low transaction costs are essential for efficient markets. Erecting barriers does the opposite: it raises costs and reduces overall productivity.

Experience has shown that single-buyer models often create challenges over time. Without competition, there is less pressure to reward quality, so farmers may see little reason to invest in better produce. When state-owned enterprises face financial difficulties, payment delays to farmers also become more likely, and farmers with no other market will have no recourse. Competition, on the other hand, encourages buyers to offer better logistics, faster payments, and stronger prices. Without that discipline, efficiency tends to decline.

Another area that requires caution is the proposed involvement of security agencies in enforcing the directive. Using law enforcement to restrict a farmer’s movement of goods risks being perceived as limiting basic economic freedoms. This approach could strain relations between citizens and security institutions and may open avenues for corruption and extortion. It would be more productive to build trust than to compel compliance.

Industrialization should improve, not reduce, the standard of living of Benue people. A policy that lowers farm-gate prices works against that goal. The state cannot grow sustainably if its rural producers are worse off.

A more sustainable path would be to make Bensono the preferred buyer, not the only buyer.This can be achieved by offering premium prices for premium fruit, ensuring prompt cash payments, and supporting farmers with extension services and quality inputs at no cost. When farmers see clear benefits, they will choose to supply the factory voluntarily. That is how you build a resilient supply chain — through attraction, not restriction.

In light of the above, it is advisable for the Benue State Government to reconsider and withdraw the current directive. Rather than a “export or die” approach, I recommend a market-friendly strategy that positions Bensono to compete.

To our farmers: you remain the engine of Benue’s economy. You are encouraged to seek the best available market and negotiate terms that protect your livelihood. When BIPC and Bensono compete fairly in the open market, everyone wins — the factory, the farmer, and the state.

The prosperity of Benue’s farmers is not separate from the prosperity of Benue State. It is the foundation of it.