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Food Security Is Priority — Tinubu Pledges Aggressive Overhaul of Agriculture Sector
President Bola Tinubu has assured Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that his administration is actively removing bureaucratic bottlenecks stifling Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He emphasized that eliminating these constraints will pave the way for food sovereignty and increased exports, particularly in livestock production.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Tinubu made this known during a bilateral meeting held at Copacabana Forte in Brazil, attended by members of both countries’ cabinets. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday titled “We’re Removing All Bottlenecks to Improve Food and Agric Production in Nigeria, Says President Tinubu to Brazilian Leader.”
President Tinubu said Nigeria is implementing sweeping economic reforms to enhance global competitiveness, especially in agriculture where the country holds a natural advantage.
“All technicalities in existing agreements between Nigeria and Brazil will be streamlined and fast-tracked,” Tinubu said, referencing areas such as trade, aviation, energy transition, agricultural development, mining, and natural resource exploration.
He praised Brazil’s research and development model, describing it as exemplary, and noted that the South American country ranks among the world’s top producers of food and agricultural products.
On livestock development, Tinubu highlighted ongoing efforts by his administration to attract investment in poultry, cattle rearing, and fisheries. He also pointed to the blue economy as a promising area for long-term partnerships with Brazil. He underscored the role of Nigeria’s subnational governments in complementing federal efforts to use agriculture as a major driver of employment and resource mobilisation.
In response, President Lula pledged to fast-track and regularize all outstanding agreements with Nigeria, promising that updated Memoranda of Understanding would be signed during Tinubu’s next official visit.
Lula also stressed the need to dismantle lingering bureaucratic hurdles between the two nations to ensure faster results. He said Brazilian research and development institutions are ready to partner with Nigeria in improving livestock farming.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, noted that President Tinubu remains firmly committed to achieving food security through robust domestic and international partnerships. He added that Nigeria already enjoys a comparative advantage in fertilizer production, which can be further enhanced.
Similarly, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, outlined three key areas of potential collaboration with Brazil: disease and health management, sanitary services, and research into genetic materials and new breeds.
Governors in attendance at the meeting included Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos). Governor Abiodun pledged that the subnational governments would support the federal government’s drive to transform agriculture.
He added that the inclusion of a business forum during Tinubu’s visit would help inject fresh capital and ideas into the sector, enabling swift and meaningful progress.
Also present at the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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